Preparing the Sunday Dress ~ On the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne

Today the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our Mother.  As I prepared the boys' clothes for Mass this morning, I couldn't stop thinking about the two of them who prayed fervently for a child, promising to dedicate their child to the service of our Lord, should they be so blessed.

I have to admit that there was a moment when sarcasm crept into my thoughts toward the pious ones. Oh, really people. How hard could it have been to raise a sinless child. Must have been tough livin' on Easy Street with one who does no wrong. 

(Insert palm to forehead right here).

But I know, as you do too, that parenting a child, no matter how perfect they may be, is never an easy undertaking.

Although Mary was ever-sinless, Joachim and Anne did not take for granted their supreme duty to nurture a deep love and devotion for God within their daughter.  Through the ordinary undertakings of their everyday lives, they were ultimately preparing Mary to know, to love and to receive Jesus Christ with her entire being.

Don't you love my classy assortment of plastic hangers??

I suppose, through my little Sunday morning routine of pressing out pants and starching shirts for our six sons to wear to Holy Mass, I am preparing them, in a small way, to receive Jesus, too.

Over the years I've received equal amounts of compliments and criticisms for the way I dress the boys for church. Everything from "Man, your boys sure look handsome!" to "Boy, you guys are a little fancy for church, don't ya think?"

I wouldn't exactly call well-worn khakis from Target fancy, but whatever.  What our family wears to mass is never about impressing the locals or making a fashion statement.  It's about approaching the highest point of our week with the proper disposition, inside and out, and dressing accordingly for that which we are about to receive.

I once heard a wise priest respond in this way to those who say, It doesn't matter what I wear to church, because Jesus loves me no matter what:

It is not the love Jesus has for you that is in question, but rather the love you have for Him.

His words have stuck with me ever since.

Our boys love sports, and they certainly know the value of dedicating themselves to all of the necessary preparations to compete.  Game day is always ceremonial. Mentally they contemplate all aspects of the game, emotionally they invest themselves, heart and soul, into the quest for victory, physically they have trained their bodies and dress that body with dignity and pride.

I would be amiss if I did not impress upon them, by word and example, the greater good of preparing themselves for Mass, beginning, but not ending with, the way that they dress.

I realize that tending to the boys' dress requires extra time and attentiveness on my part, but I'm becoming quite fond of the task.  It is an opportunity to pray for the child whose clothes I am washing and pressing, and to admire and appreciate the beautiful differences in each boy, especially as they are all growing in different ways in the spiritual life.

I pray that as our sons grow up and move on to fulfill their purpose in life, beyond our home, that they will continue to love their Catholic faith, and that in their devotion to our Lord, they will find that, in taking the time to dress well for Mass, they honor Him with their love and attentiveness.

{Linking up with the ladies at Fine Linen and Purple for What I Wore Sunday.}

 Dress: TJ Maxx 

Accessories: Francesca's

Shoes: Zappos

My Faith Was My Parent's Faith Until I Fell In Love - Celebrating St.John Paul II

On Wednesday we had a little party at our house!  It was a party I had been waiting for 9 years to celebrate! A party in honor of St. Pope John Paul II, whose feast day we honored with Polish fare, cold beer and an ample amount of joy, storytelling, and fond memories.

MENU: 

Polish Sausage (minus the kraut, because, boys)

Sweet Potato Fries

Kale Chips

Polish Cookies

Beer (because, it's the right thing to do)

Celebrating the life of John Paul II with our children is really important to me, because he is the person to whom I can truly credit my conversion.  Now, when I say conversion I'm not talking about anything mind-blowing here.  No juicy story filled with scandal, no miraculous healing etc., etc.  I was just an ordinary sixteen year old girl, living in my own little world, a world comprised of family life, school activities, friends, a job, and all the little happenings of the small town where I grew up, when something inside of me came alive.

Growing up, I had a great love and respect for my parents (still do!). From that love and respect came the desire to embrace the values that they taught me as well to love and participate fully in my Catholic faith.  Naturally, though, my faith was, to a large degree, their faith.  It wasn't until I had the privilege of attending World Youth Day in Denver, in 1993, that my faith truly became my own.

{Chillin' in Denver with the Bishop. Man, was I tan! That should explain the sunspots and wrinkles. Hello, Missy. Have you ever heard of SPF??}

I went to Denver not knowing what to expect, and not knowing much at all about Pope John Paul II, although I was terribly eager to "meet" him and to hear what message he had for us, his young flock. There are two wonderfully profound moments from that trip to the mountains that I will never ever forget, two sparks that would burst into flames of love for Christ and His church, flames that continue to burn brightly within my heart today.

The first moment was when we were gathered together in Mile High Stadium listening to the Holy Father speak to us for the first time (read his entire homily here).  He said, "Be not afraid!" Be not afraid to be saints, to share the gospel, to celebrate life and to defend it, to say yes to God's call for your life, even if it's difficult, even if you must suffer.

I felt incredibly encouraged by him.  He spoke to my heart as a father who encourages his child.  His words filled my soul in such a way that I couldn't help but soak up all of the love and encouragement he had to share. And, the fruit that came from actually paying attention and listening to him was -get this - that I wanted to know, love and serve Christ forever and ever and ever. That was a big thing for this little small town teenager!

The second "spark" moment took place at Cherry Creek Park where we had camped out the night before the Holy Father came to speak to all of us.  When he approached his seat on the stage and sat down, he covered his face with his hands and wept, completely overwhelmed by the cheering and chanting of the crowd who was so deeply moved by his presence, so dearly longing to show their love and affection for him.

He wasn't a celebrity, he was our Father, our Shepherd, and he loved us, he truly loved us.  I was deeply touched by his humility and sincerity.  He had spoken truth, and whether I understood the theological and catechetical roots of his preaching didn't matter. I knew that what he had to say to us was real and true and good and beautiful. I knew I could trust him.  Through him I heard the voice of Christ. His words resonated within me as a light casting out darkness, doubt and fear, and suddenly I could see life in a way I had never seen it before.

I'm typing this and that Sara Groves song "Something Changed" is rolling though my head. She sang it right (love her!):

Something changed inside me

Broke wide open, all spilled out

Till I had no doubt

That something changed...

I will always be grateful to my parents for encouraging me to make that trip to Denver so many years ago.  My faith journey from that time up until now certainly hasn't been a perfect one, but it is one that has been strengthened and enriched by the beautiful writings and teachings of St. John Paul II. He turned my plans to become a missionary and then teach in the inner city until the age of 40 (after which I might entertain the idea of getting married) upside down. Down. Down.

{Proof of Love. Proof of Truth}

I read Love and Responsibility and Muliaris Dignitatum (The Dignity of Women) and well, here I am celebrating the author himself with 6 kids and one fine husband!

It's really special for Steve and me to be able to share our mutual love for this beautiful saint with our children.  To show them photos of our marriage being blessed by him, our wonderful library filled with his wisdom, and to impress upon them the real tangible desire our Lord has for each and every one of us to become saints. He's some awesome proof of that.

I have to admit I was a little ill-prepared for the party.  Especially, because I should have THOUGHT to make the Pope's favorite dessert, Polish Papal Creme Cake.  (Look for that one next year!)  But, we did have somewhat of a Polish inspired dinner, and during school we:

- Read a bio on Karol Wojtyla

- Colored this picture and also this one 

- Watched a You Tube clip of him speaking and

- Baked Polish cookies for dessert.

(FYI - these are NOT kolaches. Thanks to my daddy, I'm 50% Czech, so I know these things, trust me. I'll post more details on that very important culinary point of view later, because I owe it to my Grandma Blanche, who is in heaven and has probably met the pope and told him about her 

ah-mazing kolaches.)

The highlight of the party was watching the Royals beat the Giants in game #2 of the World Series. The boys had read in the Holy Father's bio that he was an adventure seeker. He loved being outdoors and was a great sports enthusiast.  Reminding them that our beloved saint was watching the game with us from heaven made them smile.

{Can we just pause for a moment of silence here for that smile?? Gosh!!}

Even Joey, who just so happens to have been given the middle name Karol, after Karol Wojtyla, had a splendid time!  But, maybe that's because he's basking in Grandma's love. Grandma, who is here helping me this week (cue the angels singing). Grandma, the one who "made" me go to Denver to meet the man who changed my life forever. Thank you, Grandma!

{Source}

Happy Feast Day, Papa! We love you!

Resurrection Joy!! Easter highlights 2014

Happy Easter!!

Oh, the JOY of the Resurrection!!

I have really enjoyed reading so many of your Easter stories (ye who blog) and seeing fun photos of your family all dapper and grinning from ear to ear.  I've also been greatly consoled knowing I'm not the only mama out there who devoured a ghastly amount of chocolate on Sunday.  The feeling of solidarity is much appreciated!! I love you for that!!

I cannot explain just how much I treasure Easter morning, the beginning of a new day, a day when we rise up out of the trenches of Lent, out of our scars and bruising, out of our sorrows and tears, (out of the depths of chocolate deprivation, no??) allowing the glory of Christ's Resurrection to envelope us, to transform us into something brilliant, something more alive, happy and beautiful!  Gloria Deo!!

My alarm chimed early Sunday morning, and for the first time in months, I was happy to rise in eager anticipation of the day. Tiptoeing around the house, there was just enough time for me to assemble breakfast (Pioneer Woman's baked french toast prepped the night before was baked up all yummy - yummy with a side of bacon yummy), and touch up the boys' duds with a sweep of the iron before they came rambling up the stairs.

Is to day the day we've been waiting for?? Is today finally Easter?? Henry questions.
YES!! I proclaim with a ha-uge smile!
He hugs me, hugs the baby and says, This is going to be a great day, Mama!!

The rush-around begins.  Steve cranks up some of our favorite praise songs and an energy of anticipation bubbles over in forms of laughter, teasing and squirming into ties and sport coats. While I pull myself together, the boys saunter in and out of the bathroom, waiting for my thumbs up approval of their ensembles.  I always tell them they look very handsome, just like their dad. Bending down to straighten ties and paste down wild hairs, I see their boyhood wild all scrubbed up fresh, and my heart is pressed with joy.

Everyone always complains about never getting a good family photo at the holidays, but really, my favorite ones are the un-posed and imperfect, so much so, that I wonder why I ever even shout, "Okay, get together, straighten up, stop picking, look heeeeere and smile!"

This is living proof that all of the men in our family ignore pretty much everything I say unless I'm holding a plate of food under their nose or am in labor, and even then.....well, we'll see.

Since there's an overflow of dressy attire from holidays past in the boys' closets, I decided to recycle this year and pull from the stash of old favorites.  With the exception of Charlie, because every baby needs something sweet and newish to wear for Easter, everyone managed to find something that they were content to wear. 

Thank you, Granny, for my new duds.  My mama says I look very handsome!!

At Mass, families poured into the pews, and I couldn't help but steal away from the cross for just a moment to catch a glimpse of all the pastel ruffles, shiny shoes and hair bedecked with braids and bows marching in. Sweetness surrounded me!

I love our parish.  There are so many wonderful families there, families with lots of little ones like ours, who squirm and squeal and bang their heads on the pew during mass. We never feel alone! Steve and I have received so much support and encouragement throughout this pregnancy from all of the moms and dads, especially those of "big" families, who share in our experience.

During the ordinary days of the week, as I weather the typical comments about family size, the sideways disconcerted glances from strangers as my outstretched belly bounces along behind five boys, and the questions concerning whether the life inside of me was a choice or not (surely not, surely that baby is a surprise, because six? Really? Who wants six, let alone 2 or 3 or 4??), it's easy for me to feel alone on the motherhood journey, except on Sundays.  On Sunday my spirit is renewed, thanks to the dear people of our parish who have nothing but excitement to offer.  They are the best support group ever!

Sometimes, I'm tempted to think that people feel the need to ask the list of tactless questions, because being given an answer will help justify the preconceived definition they've already assigned to me, my family, my life.  We live in a society of definitions.  People must be labeled, coded, defined in order for us to know what and how to think of them.  As a mom I sense deeply this disordered habit of labeling and it doesn't sit well with me. 

Which category do you and I fall into?  There's supermom moms, the Martha Stewart moms, overachieving moms and underachieving moms, moms who have traded their careers for diaper duty and story time, mom's who only know how to have babies or moms who are too selfish or broken to have babies.  There's the spoilers who give too much and the selfish ones who don't give enough.  At the end of the day it often feels like too many in this world want to know which one you are, not caring who you are, so that they can slap a label over your heart and call it good.

Jesus never labeled.  He never categorized.  He doesn't now, and he never will.  He calls us only by name, a name that is precious to Him.

Isn't that good news?

More than that, He longs to free us from the old stubborn habit of categorizing our neighbor and instead, give us eyes that see others from a place of real, disinterested love. 
The kind of love that said yes to death in exchange for life, love that hung on the cross by choice - not by circumstance or force. Love that knows nothing for itself, but longs to be everything to and for everyone else.

That's what I'm treasuring this Easter.

I suppose that it is hoping in that very Love that compels one's heart and will to see love multiplied.  For us, the multiplication of love is in family life.  I never thought I would be the mother of six children! But, love can free us from the fear of being stretched by the power of grace in ways we could never imagine.  When we freely choose to live our lives...to give our lives, to make choices and to act every day, as Christ has shown us - from that grace-filled font of pure, disinterested love - the fruits of choosing give of ourselves overflows into our own souls, and into the lives of others in an abundance of inexpressible joy. It's the mystery: in giving we receive!

Christ didn't just conquer sin and capture salvation for all of us by the cross, He won for us the opportunity to be conquerors as well, and to share in His freedom to love as He loves, unlabeled, and undefined. We see one another first and foremost (and desire to be known by others) as children of the King of Love.

Whoops! Didn't mean to pontificate there....!

Shall we par-tay talk instead, yes??

After Mass, we all headed over to Steve's parents for the festivities.  We were spoiled with an incredible meal and delicious wine all served at the most beautiful table set with linens, china and flowers.  Hospitality x 1000!!

And, dessert.  Dessert is really the main course of any holiday, right? See the nest down there? I was head of quality control when it came to the eggs.  Approximately 3/4 of the bag failed to meet Easter cake standards (it was one cracked shell after another) and had to be consumed. By me.  {Visualize cheerleading jump here.}

Since our family fasted from desserts during Lent, the boys requested that I bake something sweet for Easter.  A couple of years ago, I started the tradition of making a special Easter cake, and this year, I found a really beautiful recipe on Pinterest.  It's probably not the best idea to select an overly ambitious project for any holiday, say a picture-perfect confection made by a professional baker...but ya know I've always been a bit delusional when it comes to culinary possibilities in my kitchen.  Many of my attempts at pin-worthy creations end up being eaten by the trash can or substituted with Little Debbie's and ice-cream, but this one, this one is being chalked up as an Easter miracle (cue the angels).

Speaking of sweets, just before lunch, we suddenly realized that Charlie was no where to be found.  And, that's because the had struck gold.  Overwhelmed with delight, Moby was rendered mute with joy...I mean chocolate...by his delectable findings....

Catching him in the action was the best part of our afternoon.  We laughed ourselves to tears!

Steve's mom had stashed away a sack of candy for a scavenger hunt later that afternoon.  By the time we narrowed in on Charlie's location, it was too late, the giant chocolate bunny was already decapitated.  Doesn't he look so innocent?? It's okay, Moby, mama loves a little chocolate appetizer once in a while too.  The stealthful silence, may also be my special contribution to your genetic code, but I don't want to brag about it.

After lunch, the children gathered around the table for a little Christ-centered activity that Steve's mom had prepared, called Resurrection Eggs.  I highly recommend it! Each egg contains an object that is symbolic of an even that took place during Christ's journey to Calvary and leading up to the resurrection.  Included in the kit is a booklet with special readings for families to ponder and discuss.

While rain was in the forecast, the clouds kept the sprinkles contained, and we were all able to enjoy the afternoon hours outside, first with a scavenger hunt prepared by Steve's mom...

She left giant Easter eggs hidden around the yard, and each egg contained clues that the kids had to piece together in order to discover the final prize.  The letters spelled out, FAMILY FUN AT THE ZOO! Bob and Kathy then gave each family tickets to the local zoo as a gift.  Wahoo!! We can't wait to go!

Guess who found the most eggs at the egg hung?? 

Me, a hoarder? I think that's a little harsh. I prefer collector, yeah I'm a collector.

And while the kiddos collected eggs, the adults broke out the golf clubs for a little putting around the back yard.

I have a little abdominal impediment that makes swinging a golf club a sheer impossibility (not to mention that it just looks like that type of strenuous activity might send me into labor), so I took up spectating, with my feet up and my (water) koozie close.  Actually, I'm not a big fan of golf, but had fun watching Steve give his sister, Jen, a few lessons.

Henry discovered that smacking the grass in giant swaths is the most fun thing you can do with a club, and that kept him entertained for a while....

Until he got tired and collapsed into the grass for a little rest before walking the grueling 29 yards back to the house.

What a blessing to share and enjoy such a beautiful day with family!

I hope your day was filled with sweet memories, too!

Castle Cakes and Saintly Names ~ Celebrating the Saints With Your Children

I wish I could remember the person who shared with me the idea of celebrating our children's names, (because I'm sure that I didn't come up with it on my own). I'd really like to thank her for being the one responsible for the reason why I get to eat cake 6 times more per year than the average parent. You should join me, really you should!

So, what was this great idea? It's the celebration of your child's name, through the remembrance of the saint that they share a name with.

Now, if you went through a special phase where, for reasons that you can't remember, naming your child Floyd or Optimus or Tonto sounded like a great idea, don't worry, you can still jump in on this party (who knows, they may become the first saint of their name)!

Over the years, when I've shared this fun way of incorporating the lives of the saints into real family life, some of my friends have asked how to do it if their children aren't named after saints. Simple! Have your child choose a saint that he/she admires.  They can "adopt" that saint, if you will, asking him/her to pray for them.  Then, when their special saint's feast day comes up on the calendar, it's time to celebrate! (Online resources for feast days and saint bios here and here.)

There are several truly wonderful books written on the lives of the saints for your kids to enjoy, and also a lot of poorly written and illustrated ones too, so be choosy! One of our favorites is Saints: Lives and Illuminations by Ruth Sanderson. She wrote a second volume as well, which is equally inspiring.

Our family's tradition is to bake a cake in the shape of a castle.  Then, we read about our child's saint, and talk about what it means to live a life of saintly virtue.  When our oldest was about four years old, he became fascinated with knights and kings. It seemed natural for us, then, to make a connection between saintly virtue and knighthood.

We found these three books to be a great way to encourage our boys toward chivalry, courage, generosity, sacrifice, service and perseverance - strong, admirable and virtuous behaviors of the saints!

Brave Young Knight

The Squire and the Scroll

I'd Be Your Hero

As the older boys have outgrown these books, they have found a great selection of literary joys that inspire them to follow the path of virtue, including Sir Wyvern Pugilist's Dragon Slayers. 

They also truly love taking on the teacher role, being the ones who read to the younger boys, passing on what they have learned about striving toward a life of virtue.

Our boys really look forward to the remembrance of their special saint.  This is one tradition that I believe will have valuable, and lasting implications for our sons.  They even talking about passing the tradition on to their own kids!

Although I tailor everything we do around here to boys, since we haven't any girls (yet!), I think that this could easily be modified for girls, using the same castle mold and presenting the idea of what it means to be God's princess, discussing the virtues that the female saints heroically lived during their lifetime.

{Castle Cake Mold from Nordic Ware}

One thing I love about using the cake mold, is that I rarely ever do any decorating, and I always use a boxed cake mix, letting each child choose their favorite flavor.  Sometimes I dust on a little powdered sugar or drizzle on a simple glaze (it looks like icicles when it dries!).  It really is great enjoyed plain or served up with a scoop of your favorite ice cream.

I love this decorating idea for saints whose feast days fall during Christmas! 

{Photo Credit}

A really simple and sweet way to decorate the castle for girls.

 {Photo Credit}

Good old powdered sugar never disappoints!

{Photo Credit}

Do you have any celebratory traditions that you 

enjoy in honor of the saints?

Please share them with us!

Kings Crowns and Treasure Seeking

"Hey, Daddy?? Can you get me some d-nuts, pwease?? Pa-wease, daddy??"

Last fall we developed a bit of a {bad} habit of swinging by the local gas station after Mass on Sundays for donuts.  I blame Charlie for this dietary fall out.  Who can say no to a two year old who's all dressed up, hair combed, cheeks rosy, grin adorable perched in his little ol' car seat, rockin' the charm and pleading for a donut?? We can't. We can't. We can't. We can't!

Last Sunday was like no other, two seconds after being buckled in, Charlie's request came forth. The brothers rallied behind him with their unwavering chants of support. Have you seen the first Hobbit movie? The scene where the Hobbits overtake Bilbo's kitchen?? (No?? See clip blow!) That's our boys when someone mentions donuts (or Chipotle or Dairy Queen). They morph into hungry Hobbits.

Anyhoo... just as we were about to make the famous turn toward the quick shop, Andrew spoke up and reminded us that there's really no need for donuts today because tomorrow is Epiphany, and Mom always makes homemade donuts - better known as "Kings Crowns" - on Epiphany.

{Baked Donut Recipe}

My heart is secretly happy when the boys remember, without prompting, the little details of our family traditions, ones that honor particular feast days on the liturgical calendar.  Sometimes I feel like there's really an unspoken let down after the Christmas season passes, the weather is cold and dreary and the next major holiday to look forward to is Valentine's Day (which seems forever away).  But, Epiphany, being the finale to Christmas, offers us a little glimpse of goodness, one that reminds us to carry our joy for Jesus into the new year and beyond.

When we celebrate any feast day with treats, the boys NEVER let me forget exactly what to make. I've been sick for the past few days, so thankfully, George volunteered to assemble the donut ingredients for me. He did a great job! 

While I went on a hunt for my camera so that I might photograph the donuts, one of the boys thought it would be funny to put the three wise men around the plate "adoring" the treats.  Gotta love it!!

On Monday, the day we celebrated Epiphany, Ben's school was cancelled due to the weather.  We all had a little bit of cabin fever and wanted to escape the fort, even if just for a little while. Coming up with special hands-on lessons outside of the house to reinforce a particular teaching is one of my favorite aspects of homeschooling.

On a whim, I had an idea that I thought might really bring the lessons surrounding Ephiphany to life. With the boys bundled up, we braved the cold and ventured out to a large antique mall just a few miles from our home. On the way there, we talked with anticipation about what treasures we might find.

When we arrived, each one of us was overwhelmed by the amount of nostalgia layered all around us on shelves and in special display cases.  I'm always immediately drawn to the vintage dishes, books and furniture, but the boys were absolutely enamored with the old historic guns, knives, swords and tools.  

{Hello! This is 2014, may I help you??}

I was thrilled to follow them around, watching the wonder in their expressions as they discovered new old treasures, discussing their findings with one another in detail.

Our adventure to the antique mall was the perfect way to set up a little chat about the deeper meaning of Epiphany.  Once home, over hot cocoa and donuts, we chatted about our favorite discoveries of the day.  Everyone took their turn sharing about the things that were most interesting to them. They recalled an impressive list of valuables, everything from Civil War memorabilia to old model cars. Then, came the most important series of questions....

How old do you think the oldest antique was in the store today??

What makes some of the items in the store more valuable than others??

Will those items last forever, longer than you and me??

Since they will outlast our family on this earth, are they more valuable than we are??

Why not??

{This is where you hope that one child will say that people are more valuable than any material treasure because people have an eternal soul.}

Were the Wise Men treasure-seekers?

Yes!

They were seeking the greatest treasure ever to dwell on the earth, Jesus Christ.  We are called to be treasure-seekers, too, just like the Wise Men.  Every single day.  We honor Him through the offering of the gift of ourselves, our praise, our prayers, our talents, our struggles, our successes, our failures. And, we receive, in Him, the treasure of His graces, His love, His mercy, His blessings.

Our "day off" from school turned into one of the best "educational" days we've had in a long time. One simple field trip offered us a look into history, science, mathematics, and religion....with a sweet reward at the end, for both the tummy and the heart.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:21

Outtakes:

Hobbits in the kitchen.  

Our boys strike a remarkable resemblance....Just say donut!