It was quite a weekend- crazy busy to say the least!! Let's see, some vital stats from said weekend:
Friday night- grocery shopping, nice visit with Betsy Pink
Saturday (all day) - 4 good friends, 2 tots, 7.5 bushels of apples into 97 quarts of applesauce, a beautiful day, lots of work, lots of fun, lots of mess. A good day all around, with a few minor casualties and applesauce to feed the masses for the coming year.
Sunday - Mass, sunshine, wrapping gifts, Jane Colette's baptism (no more pagans) and as Deacon Dan reminded all of us- the most important day of her life- what a blessing to be part of it, party to celebrate Jane's baptism, Geno's and Lucy's birthdays, lots of kiddos, baby snuggles, toddler playtime, and even a few adult conversations thrown in. Then Life Teen and finally home to bed.
Monday- ouch.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Friday, October 19, 2007
Revenge
So... many of my readers (all 3 of you) may remember the prank Kara and I pulled on our friend Nick several years ago, its too long to go into all the details, but basically i convinced him that my dog Maggie (who he hates) had died. The sobbing over the phone had him convinced and he even admitted that he cried when his dog died, so i didn't feel so bad. Anyway, that was 3 years ago and ever since he has been plotting his revenge. This weekend, while I was away on the CTK women's retreat...
in case you can't count them all, that is 1500 bows on my house, surrounding bushes, basketball hoop... thats a lot of bows. When we pulled up from retreat, I had a good laugh!! nice job guys!
Btw, I spent an hour and a half on Monday night removing bows and was only half done. I'm sure the neighbors are all wondering what on earth is going on. The paper delivery lady came out and insisted on hearing the story and wondered if it was my birthday. Nope, I gave her the very short version and she thought it was hilarious. Last night I spent another hour with the ladder and got the rest of them off. Note to self, if you decide to bow someone's house, the duck tape and masking taped bows come off easily, using the bow adhesive makes it impossible to get off. Tonight i need to razor blade off the windows. Anyway, last night Scott (my next door neighbor who hates dogs and thinks i am dumb) walked by and said "It looks like you've got plenty of bows for your Christmas wrapping." I laughed and agreed, so he asked "Did something happen to Maggie? I couldn't figure out what the message on the garage meant." I told him the short version of the story, he laughed and headed home. More evidence for him that I am crazy. :)
It was a good prank- other than the lingering bow adhesive on the siding and basketball hoop. But I still won- there really is nothing to top convincing your friend your dog died by sobbing on the phone and getting him to admit that he cried when his dog died too :D Not to mention the other people that were caught on the same prank to lesser degrees... Yes, it sure was good. 
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Pruning
I really do learn a lot about God and about myself through my adventures of a homeowner and gardener (or wanna be gardener). Today's tidbit is about my Rose of Sharon bush. When I moved into my house in November of 2002 it was hard to tell exactly what all the shrubs around the house were. I was pleasantly surprised the following summer to find the large shrub in front is a rose of sharon bush, that blooms with beautiful purple blossoms all summer and fall. I love that bush!! The sparrows also love that bush and it always seems to be full of happy birds, fluttering and singing.
The first couple years I lived there I didn't do anything to this large bush, and it continued to grow and bloom beautifully. The best time for pruning the rose of sharon is late winter or early spring- so usually I forget to do so since that is not the time of year I'm out in the yard much. Two years ago, I got my act together and actually went out the prune it in February, and spent a lot of time trimming the branches back and shaping it. The following summer, it bloomed more than I've ever seen! It was breathtaking for the whole summer and fall. Last year, once again, I forgot to prune it (yeah, I still don't do much in the yard in February) and this summer it only had half its usual amount of leaves and 1/4 the flowers... rather overgrown and bare and sad looking. Don't get me wrong, it still did bloom, but very very sparingly and especially compared to previous years, it was kind of disappointing. A few days ago, although its only October, I trimmed some of the lower branches that were in the way of the lawn cutting and some dead branches too. I really need to remember to do a thorough pruning in February.
Looking at my sad rose of sharon in its overgrown state made me think about my life lately. Do you ever feel like your life needs pruning? Somehow it grows and grows and grows and without pruning, it gets to the point of being so busy trying to support the size of it that it doesn't have the energy to flower. I think I'm there in life right now. I'm feeling overgrown and flower-less (metaphorically speaking). I'm not sure how exactly to prune or what needs to go, but it is time to do some pruning...
The first couple years I lived there I didn't do anything to this large bush, and it continued to grow and bloom beautifully. The best time for pruning the rose of sharon is late winter or early spring- so usually I forget to do so since that is not the time of year I'm out in the yard much. Two years ago, I got my act together and actually went out the prune it in February, and spent a lot of time trimming the branches back and shaping it. The following summer, it bloomed more than I've ever seen! It was breathtaking for the whole summer and fall. Last year, once again, I forgot to prune it (yeah, I still don't do much in the yard in February) and this summer it only had half its usual amount of leaves and 1/4 the flowers... rather overgrown and bare and sad looking. Don't get me wrong, it still did bloom, but very very sparingly and especially compared to previous years, it was kind of disappointing. A few days ago, although its only October, I trimmed some of the lower branches that were in the way of the lawn cutting and some dead branches too. I really need to remember to do a thorough pruning in February.
Looking at my sad rose of sharon in its overgrown state made me think about my life lately. Do you ever feel like your life needs pruning? Somehow it grows and grows and grows and without pruning, it gets to the point of being so busy trying to support the size of it that it doesn't have the energy to flower. I think I'm there in life right now. I'm feeling overgrown and flower-less (metaphorically speaking). I'm not sure how exactly to prune or what needs to go, but it is time to do some pruning...
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Remember your death...
I've got a lot of thoughts rattling around this brain of mine lately- kind of a confused jumble most of the time, so i apologize if this is totally incoherent...
My great uncle Ev passed away last week and his funeral was yesterday. Uncle Ev was 86, great husband for 62 years, father to eight children, grandfather to 19, great grandfather to 2, uncle, great uncle to many many more, and friend to all. He died very suddenly, had been doing well, healthy, living his life, and then he died of a heart attack. It was and is a shock to all of us, particularly his family. And yet the more i think about it, the more I think that that is exactly how I would choose to go... I remember watching my grandma suffer so much in the last year of her life and it was incredibly painful for her and for all of us, certainly beautiful in the midst of the pain, but incredibly difficult. When she died, it was almost a relief to know that her suffering was finally done. My Oma, my grandpa's second wife, also suffered a lot in the last months of her life, and finally died with her family at her side. But Uncle Ev, he was playing cards with my grandpa a few days earlier, still going to daily Mass, bringing the Eucharist to the homebound, enjoying his family, his hobbies, his life. And then, almost without warning, it was time to go.
Yup, if i had my say, that's exactly how I would want to go... still in the midst of all of it and then bang, heading out. His death and the suddenness of it is a reminder of how fragile life is- any of us could go at any moment. When I die, I don't want there to be regrets... I want to be ready at a moment's notice for God to call me Home... Am I ready? Are there things I need to do? People I need to reconcile with? Have I told my loved ones just how much I do love them? Do I say it enough? What would they say in my eulogy (now that is an interesting and scary thought... hhmmm)? On a practical and yet personal level- Are there closets I should organize just in case someone else has to deal with it when i leave? Should I write a will? What do i have to put in a will anyway? Who would take care of my pooches if I was gone? ... so much to ponder...
I think it was the Carthusians (but I could be wrong) that used to greet each other with "Remember your death brother." What a good reminder for us- to live today as is it is our last day here, our last opporunity to love God and our neighbor on this side, our last opportunity to make a difference and to do all things, large and small, with love.
My great uncle Ev passed away last week and his funeral was yesterday. Uncle Ev was 86, great husband for 62 years, father to eight children, grandfather to 19, great grandfather to 2, uncle, great uncle to many many more, and friend to all. He died very suddenly, had been doing well, healthy, living his life, and then he died of a heart attack. It was and is a shock to all of us, particularly his family. And yet the more i think about it, the more I think that that is exactly how I would choose to go... I remember watching my grandma suffer so much in the last year of her life and it was incredibly painful for her and for all of us, certainly beautiful in the midst of the pain, but incredibly difficult. When she died, it was almost a relief to know that her suffering was finally done. My Oma, my grandpa's second wife, also suffered a lot in the last months of her life, and finally died with her family at her side. But Uncle Ev, he was playing cards with my grandpa a few days earlier, still going to daily Mass, bringing the Eucharist to the homebound, enjoying his family, his hobbies, his life. And then, almost without warning, it was time to go.
Yup, if i had my say, that's exactly how I would want to go... still in the midst of all of it and then bang, heading out. His death and the suddenness of it is a reminder of how fragile life is- any of us could go at any moment. When I die, I don't want there to be regrets... I want to be ready at a moment's notice for God to call me Home... Am I ready? Are there things I need to do? People I need to reconcile with? Have I told my loved ones just how much I do love them? Do I say it enough? What would they say in my eulogy (now that is an interesting and scary thought... hhmmm)? On a practical and yet personal level- Are there closets I should organize just in case someone else has to deal with it when i leave? Should I write a will? What do i have to put in a will anyway? Who would take care of my pooches if I was gone? ... so much to ponder...
I think it was the Carthusians (but I could be wrong) that used to greet each other with "Remember your death brother." What a good reminder for us- to live today as is it is our last day here, our last opporunity to love God and our neighbor on this side, our last opportunity to make a difference and to do all things, large and small, with love.
Monday, October 01, 2007
The end of summer...
So I think its time to admit to myself that summer is just about done. I love summer and always think it will involve more camping trips, more relaxing, more sailing, more projects around the house finished... and instead if flies by and is over almost before its begun :( Rather than complain about everything i didn't do (which is my first inclination) here are a few highlights from my summer:
-Stubie youth conference with my teens
-July BBQ at my place with lots of friends and their kiddos
-Softball- lots and lots of softball, winning the championship!!
-the Pannings wedding
-Cousino Long Lake
-biking with Suzie, we finally mastered it!!
-Cous family reunion- more time to hang out with the cousins
-Donal & Lindsey's engagement
-Geno's t-ball games
-the garden- currently known as "The Tomato Forest"
-canning peaches with my buddies
-an overnight at my aunt's cottage on the lake
-an overly affectionate Maggie (which is quite a personality switch that has occurred somewhere between lots of vacation- i think all the sudden she realized she likes me :)
-adventures in Montana
-my newest niece, Jane Colette
-50 acres and a Poodle, by Jeanne Marie Laskas
-the new patio door (thanks to my dad)
Next up...
-CTK Women's retreat (Michele and baby Stephen coming to visit from FL for that retreat)
-LT Training Conference thingy
-Applesaucing with friends
-Munchkin Costume Party
-Life Teen Retreat: SUPERLIFE
-Visit Cheryl in Massachussetts for a long weekend
-Thanksgiving
-ahhhhhhhhhh....
Back on track...
The last few weeks I have somehow fallen off the track. Track? you ask, what track? No, Betsy, this track has nothing to do with the tracks you used to have. For several years now I make it a point to wake up early to get to morning Mass (6.45 am) every week day except Friday (i usually go to the 5.30 pm Mass on Fridays). Daily Mass is such an incredible gift and it really does give me the grace to keep going, one day at a time, one moment at a time. I know myself and my job well enough to realize that if I don't get to Mass to start off the day, I won't make it. My dad gets to noon Mass regularly, but I never seem to get out the door to make that happen. and a 5.00 pm doesn't work well either since that means wrapping up the day and being out of work by 4.40, which never happens. My best bet is getting up early and giving God the first hour of my day, before everything else crowds for attention. And once I've given God that first hour (usually the hardest one for me), its easier to let Him handle the rest of the hours that follow.
Anyway, the last few weeks I've somehow fallen into the bad habit of turning off my alarm and getting another hour of sleep instead of getting up and making it to Mass. It started with my sore back causing excruciating pain when i woke up, but that is mostly better now and it just started to be a habit- letting the tiredness win and missing out on the best part of my day and my life. Frankly, my life really doesn't work so well for me when i don't get to daily Mass. The last few weeks I've struggled with depression, hopelessness, and extreme distraction... and it wasn't until yesterday that i really put two and two together and realized that a huge part of that is that I haven't been getting to Mass. What can i say, I'm addicted and this withdrawal is awful.
Yesterday I was reading "Pray and Never Lose Heart" by Sr Ann Shields, who was talking about setting aside time to pray and never being so busy that you don't take the time to pray. And I was convicted again and decided October 1st was a good day to get back on track- not only is it a new month, but its also the feast of St Therese, my patron saint. So this morning, although I was running late (still gotta get all the way back on track I guess), I made it to Mass... and it was good. And now I'm ready for the day... St Therese, pray for us.
Anyway, the last few weeks I've somehow fallen into the bad habit of turning off my alarm and getting another hour of sleep instead of getting up and making it to Mass. It started with my sore back causing excruciating pain when i woke up, but that is mostly better now and it just started to be a habit- letting the tiredness win and missing out on the best part of my day and my life. Frankly, my life really doesn't work so well for me when i don't get to daily Mass. The last few weeks I've struggled with depression, hopelessness, and extreme distraction... and it wasn't until yesterday that i really put two and two together and realized that a huge part of that is that I haven't been getting to Mass. What can i say, I'm addicted and this withdrawal is awful.
Yesterday I was reading "Pray and Never Lose Heart" by Sr Ann Shields, who was talking about setting aside time to pray and never being so busy that you don't take the time to pray. And I was convicted again and decided October 1st was a good day to get back on track- not only is it a new month, but its also the feast of St Therese, my patron saint. So this morning, although I was running late (still gotta get all the way back on track I guess), I made it to Mass... and it was good. And now I'm ready for the day... St Therese, pray for us.
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