In the eye of the beholder

I don't do the chicken chores in the winter - usually - but sometimes Joe just needs to relax after school. (Since i'm a super-compassionate wife, i sensed this need and told him i'd feed the flock that night. Stay warm, honey. Sit down with a cup of coffee and consider yourself off-duty. Oh, wait. Here's the baby. Thomas is downstairs. Rosemarie is probably eating crayons. I'll be back in 15.)

Getting the chance to be alone and out of the house - i mean, er, getting the chance to lug around water and chicken feed - was actually quite nice, despite the biting winds and the ugly get-up i was wearing. I don't consider a black snow cap, the husband's tattered flannel coat, and over-sized rubber boots to be the hottest thing i've ever worn.

But some people, yet unscarred by pop-culture or sin, can gaze beyond the attire and into the beauty of actions. One of those people is my 4 year old son, Thomas. When i came back in the house, red-faced and drippy-nosed from the cold wind and clad in frumpy work clothes, Thomas took one look at me and ran away into the living room. He didn't flee in disgust or disinterestedness. No, he ran as quickly as his chubby legs would carry him so he could share something great with his infant brother. Over my sniffles, i could hear him whispering excitedly,

"Leopold! You wouldn't believe how beauuuuuuuuuutiful Mama looks!"

I must be doing something right...

...if someone this edible weighs so much.

16 pounds, 9 ounces
(and he's only 2 months old)

Happy Saint Valentine's Day!

MLPs Improved?

Note the physical differences between the 20+ year old My Little Pony on the right (mine), and the spankin' new MLP on the left (Rosemarie's). Does one appear a bit more voluptuous to you? Why weren't Barbies fat when i was a kid?

Some joyous news to share!

It is with great joy that i am able to share with you that my mom's brain surgery was a complete success, and that by some miracle, she survived it without any observable ramifications and is being discharged from the hospital TODAY! Alleluia!

I wanted to extend a very heartfelt thanks to all of you who were praying for her and our family as she underwent this extremely invasive and risky operation. I could list by name at least 350 people from all over the U.S. whom i know were praying for her, and I know that at least 3 different Masses were offered for our intentions here. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

It almost goes without saying that, most of all, I would like to thank our good Father for consoling her, for watching over her, for arming her, for defending her, and for delivering her.
He has heard our prayers.

Will you now join me in offering a rosary in thanksgiving for the abundance of graces that He's showered upon her?

T.V. Converter Box Impact

Early Friday night, the two oldest children secure in their beds, I descended into our basement family room to indulge myself in a little bit of "It's-As-If-Leopold-Is-The-Only-Child" time. So there he and I sat, gazing into eachother's eyes, completely in love and conversing in our unique mother-son language.

Assuming that Leopold's proud father wouldn't want to miss a single coo or eyebrow raising of his son's, I invited Joe across the basement to join in our moments of mutual discovery.

Engrossed in whatever television show he was watching, Joe did not respond. This lack of attention illicted a pitiful, "Joe, don't you want to come over here and talk with us?" from me. The response i got (rather matter-of-factly, to boot):

"Honey. We get 26 channels now. It's doubtful I'll ever converse with you again."