Here's to 4 years of wedded bliss!

From the back of our Nuptial Mass program (copies of which were found during the annual flip through the wedding album):

"How can i ever express the happiness of a marriage joined by the Church, strengthened by an offering,
sealed by a blessing,
announced by the angels,
and ratified by the Father?...
How wonderful the bond between two believers,
now one in hope,
one in desire,
one in discipline,
one in the same service!
They ar both children of one Father and servants of the same Master, undivided in spirit and flesh - truly two in one flesh. Where the flesh is one, one also is the spirit."

(Tertullian, 'Ad Uxorem'- Latin for "To his wife")

And because it's - amazing - i'm adding the following:

Respice, quaesumus, Domine, super hos famulos tuos:
et institutis tuis, quibus propagationem humani generis ordinasti, benignus assiste; ut qui te auctore junguntur, te auxiliante serventur. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

Trans: "Look down, we beseech Thee, O Lord, upon these Thy servants, and graciously protect this Thine ordinance, whereby Thou hast provided for the propogation of mankind; that those who are joined together by Thine authority may be preserved by Thy help. Through Christ our Lord. Amen."
(from The Ritual for the Celebration of Matrimony)

Merry Christmas

A simple shot proving that the two of them weren't that naughty after all.

Or maybe they paid-off the elves....

Not too shabby...

... considering noone was behind the camera to attract baby eyes or provoke smiles.

A blessed and happy Christmas (Eve) to everyone!!

The Living Room Floor

Beware of it.

Especially if it’s overrun with little human beings and their toys.

If you are brave (substitute ‘presumptuous’) enough to lay down on it, don’t be disillusioned about blending in with the carpet.

You will become a toy. A mountain, in fact, and the insides of your unsuspecting pajamas will become uncharted territory for various stuffed creatures’ expeditions.

If you have fine instincts and are capable of bracing yourself for imminent bodily damage, you’ll be able to anticipate a drooling baby gripping fists full of your hair just before toppling to the floor, and when the roots of it are torn from your scalp, you’ll silently wince instead of yelp in agony.

And speaking of hair, - which barely got shampooed yesterday and wasn’t scheduled for another washing for at least a few more days - if you hear a baby make a really wet barfing sound over the back of your head, be sure to hastily ask the observant toddler, “Did she spuke in my hair?!!” so as to prevent far-reaching tress disaster.

Marking Time

As time continues to move on, and i become ever more keenly aware of the fact that mine here is limited, i am always supremely impressed at all the blessings and pains that can be packed into a single year.

For instance, yesterday made one year since we moved out here into the beautiful countryside. In that time, which simultaneously seems like a blink and an eternity, so much has - happened.

I gave birth to our second child.
We got a flock of chickens, built their housing, and began selling their eggs.
Our firstborn turned 3, learned to dress himself, and got 6 hair cuts.
He also learned how to fish and go sledding.
My husband created endless gardens and veg plots, and fed our family.
A brother of mine got married to his high school sweetheart.
Our first neice came into the world, making another of my brothers a proud papa.
A bunch of old trees got chopped down, and Joe planted an orchard in their place.
Some friends are now beholding the face of God.
I mowed a lawn for the first time. I also "learned" how to drive a manual.
Joe shot his first muskrat. I saw my first dead muskrat.
Thomas saw a baby field mouse, and then showed it to Rosemarie.
I beheld a sky full of brilliant stars,
heard the wind laugh through leaves as if it were the ocean waves crashing on the shore,
and got a sunburn - all in one summer's day at home.
My husband led us on countless walks through a woods that he earned for us by his daily work.
Our little girl grew and grew and keeps on getting sweetly bold.

A snippet of the countless amazing things that have happened in the last 365 days.
Nonetheless, it is so good for us to stop and recollect even the most minute details of our lives, and to remember that it is by them that we are prepared for eternal life.

Three at Last

A very happy birthday to the sweetest little boy in my life! You are a great treasure, dear boy! *Smoooooooch!*

This morning, he woke up in a mood much like this one pictured 3 years ago.
His mood is softening with the reminder that there'll be cake and icecream later today. ;)

What kind of a mom does he have?!

If a toddler said to you, in a matter of fact sort of way,

"So, Mommy, Steve (of Blue's Clues fame) is gonna take me to see Rush Limbaugh today. After my nap,"

what would you do?


(And do you think Mr. Snerdly would let us on the program if i shared with him my 3 year old's love and enthusiasm for the E.I.B. Network?)

Snowfall at long last

A glorious adorning of creation.

'Tis clear we're not the only ones doing the beautifying for the holy season.

An Historical Moment

that will be included only in the most meaningful of textbooks:

For the first time since the last month of my pregnancy with Rosemarie, i was able to get my wedding ring off my finger.

(Cue confetti)

Serve with Milk

Say it with me,
"Caramel Chocolate Popcorn."

Pop some corn.
In a separate bowl, combine and microwave
8 jumbo marshmallows,
1/3 cup brown sugar,
and 3 tbsp of butter or margarine for 2 minutes.
Mix up the sugary goodness and then add the popcorn, stirring until coated.

Melt some chocolate bark coating, and drizzle it over the caramel-ed corn. You can then wait until the choco cools and break it apart to eat, or, if you absolutely must eat it right away, dont let me stop you. It's good gooey, too.