Small Successes

1. I walked a mile in someone else' shoe. Someone with very poor fashion sense.


My sprain from last Monday turned out to be an avulsion fracture of one of the foot bones. Thankfully, only another couple miles should be required of my new attire, before I can hobble on my own.

2. I called for help. Not vocally. Not even literally, I guess. My husband dialed the numbers. But when it was clear ankle, boots and crutches were more than my husband and I could handle, we called in the Calvary and repressed my desire to keep all my balls in the air on my own.

Thank you for all your help, mom, you have been amazing!

3. We played Slap Jack instead of putting the kids to bed. They did eventually find their beds, but one big boy was much happier knowing his promised game was not postponed yet another day.

Lotza Greeka Meata ballz!

Last September we had the joy of visiting the Greek Festival here in Dallas. Unfortunately, we did not have the joy of leaving satisfied, as the scales were more heavily weighted on the stroller rider side than the pocket book.

Our solution: homemade Pitas, Greek meatballs and Tzaziki sauce, a pile of tomatoes and feta and a whole lot of fun!

Unfortunately, Daniel did not think the meatballs were as worthy of the "OPAS!" after trying one. This was a call to arms for Daddy, who rallied the troops in a remarkable display of sibling rivalry and competition. Daniel, who normally is as adamant to contradict as he is determined to not lose, could neither be coaxed into submission by taunts for the most meatballs crammed into one child sized mouth, nor a continuous dialogue of his inability to consume meatballs at all.

Peter, being the natural leader he is, stepped up to the challenge beautifully, getting two whole meatballs in his mouth and keeping them there long enough for a photo-op.










Izzie got two in, but there was a minor explosion moments later.

He was unfazed by both the taunts and explosion.

But Luci enjoyed her 67th taste of food.

(We have been informed that the counting will end at 81, she is currently at 77, although I will need to verify with Peter.)

What did she think of them?


OPA!!!
(of course!)

A Mother's Pain, a Son's Gain

On Monday I had the misfortune of stumbling over Isabelle while balancing Luci, a bag and my husband's tennis shoes. In heroic maternal form, I sacrificed my ankle for the crushing blow Luci might have otherwise suffered and performed a stellar mid air half flip and twist to land with one sideways ankle and a black and blue knee. Unfortunately, Isabelle missed the entire show despite her front row seat. She was busy chasing the runaway raisin in her trail mix.

The one blessing in this production is the extension of liberties for which Peter has been desperate, since the birth of his little sister. Now, not only is he allowed to pick Luci up, but I have been begging him to cart her all over the house, even, to his delight, in and out of the crib. She doesn't seem to mind the new transportation arrangement, but we are all grateful for what looks like a quick return to mommy's mobility.

Can you see, "look how big I am!" written all over his face.

Notre Dame Commencement

As many of you have heard, Our Lady's University is honoring a President whose views are anti everything the Church stands for on Life issues. This is a video made by students who want to prayerfully protest this weekend's commencement activities.




I know that some of you may disagree, but this is the equivalent of NOW inviting President Bush to speak at their convention. It is antithetical to everything they believe. There would be protests all over the place. Pro-choice followers believe that they have a right to choose, but what is that choice? They never complete that sentence, because they know what the end of it means, the end of a life. They know deep in their soul that that choice is a selfish choice. Many times, they see no other option, because of a lack of hope. We, as a nation, have turned away from the one thing that brings us hope by choosing to separate ourselves with a choice. A choice that many now fight for because of their own lack of hope.

Let us pray that many eyes will see the real reason behind this protest, it is not political, it is about life.