7 quick takes

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1 - Love Mat Kearney. Love this song.  Love.

2 - Lessons from a Tribunal is my latest post over at IGNITUM TODAY.  Here's a snippet of it:

The first thing I was taught is to never call it a miracle. I can talk about the miracle of life, a miracle on 34th Street, and the miracle of water changing into wine. I cannot talk about the miracle of my son being brought back to life because it isn’t one. Well, you know, I think it’s a miracle and probably you think it’s a miracle but the Roman Catholic Church takes their miracles VERY seriously and it is not an official miracle until they say so. The tribunal was an investigation into the alleged miracle of my son being brought back to life.
When you're done here, head on over to read the rest!

3 - Travis goes back to work on Monday.  I've so enjoyed him being home and I'm not ready for him to go back.  This is why we need a snow day.

4 - I have to say I am totally disappointed with the weather.  This year was supposed to be "snowmaggedon" with all kinds of deep, lasting snow.  This week we are once again looking at highs in the 50's and sunny skies.  And yes, I am bummed as I say that.

5 - NFP and Me has a great post up about natural family planning from a Protestant's perspective.  I really appreciated reading it and I encourage you to check it out. 

6 - Today is Epiphany.  Today the kids and I (mostly me) will sing "We Three Kings" as we move the wisemen to the stable.  And during their quiet time I'll wrap the gifts I bought on sale after Christmas and put them under the tree.  Because I totally forgot about doing it last night.  Ooops.

7 - Does anyone do anything special each of the 12 Days of Christmas to keep the Season going?  Now that we've got Advent down pretty well I'd like to do something for Christmas.  At this point all we do is say "Happy Birthday, Jesus!" while we light the white Christmas candle at meals and continue to play with the Melissa&Doug nativity set the kids have.  We need some more ideas, me thinks!

Christmas Review #3 - the 7 quick takes edition

-1-

What a beautiful song "In the Bleak Midwinter" is.  There's three verses that are usually not sung - maybe because they're a little too religiousy? - but nonetheless the last verse is still my favorite.  It's so easy for me to think about all the ways I'm not measuring up.  Sometimes it smacks more than just a little bit if I think about all the ways that what I'm giving isn't good enough.  But I'm giving God my heart and my life and I'm not trying to be someone else and see, that's all He wants anyways.  My life, my talents, my trials, my joys, my heart - that's much more valuable to Jesus than a sacrificial lamb or a box filled with gold.  Whew.

-2-

Of course I picked a Christmas carol because we are still in the octave of Christmas (eight days beginning with the 25th that are all celebrated by the Church with as much gusto as Christmas itself), which is within the 12 days of Christmas (the 26th - Jan 6th, aka Epiphany or the day the Magi brought the gifts). 

Today is five golden rings.

-3-

I've never cared for the song "The 12 Days of Christmas." 

-4-

All I wanted was a cute picture of my Christmas-best-wearin' kiddos in front of the tree.  This was maybe as good as it got.

-5-

Hey, here's some really good news:  I'm 20 weeks pregnant and I've only gained 4lbs.  That's pretty daw-gone good for me.  My total weight gain goal is 15-20lbs for the pregnancy and I'm thinking that if I can get through Christmas and only gain one pound and be pregnant, well I have a very good chance of meeting that goal.

-6-

Other really good news: 

Today I mark 5 years of being married to the best man evah!

My husband is awesome and I love him so much.  Yay us!

Also, December, after Christmas, is the best time to have a Catholic wedding.  The Church is decorated beautifully and so you save all kinds of money.  We plugged in the lights on the trees that were up, called it good, and received one compliment after another. 

-7-

Special prayer request:

My friend Alicia is asking for prayers for a friend and the friend's babies. 

Triplets Ryan, Norah, and Lucas were born at 24 weeks and are now in the NICU.  Please pray for their health, their mom who is recovering, and all the people who love them and are very worried.

Thank you for praying!

Christmas Review #2 - cute things that happened

Bennet walked around using Hershey Kiss filled candy canes as walking canes.

Lydia was given some toenail polish and decided to go right ahead and give herself a pedicure.

James had more fun carrying his gifts around than opening and playing with them.

Lydia and Bennet sang "Happy Birthday" to Jesus. 

Bennet got in a box that was filled with wrapping paper and read himself a book.

chocolate loving tricky girl of mine

Happy Feast of St. Nicholas!

This morning my family found that St. Nicholas had visited our house last night. (He comes for his feast day, not on Christmas Eve.  It's a special arrangement we have with him.)  In our stockings my kids found new winter pajamas, markers, and golden chocolate coins.

The kids have had a lot of feasting today - lots of chocolate - and I just let them each have two more coins to hold them over until after supper.

Upon finishing hers, Lydia asked me if she could play church. 

"Of course, sweetie!  That's a good idea!"  I was so proud.

"Well, can I have another chocolate coin to be Jesus Christ?"

No, sweetie, you cannot.  Though that is very, very clever, you cannot.

7 quick takes Friday

The Christmas Vacation Recap

-1-

Our Christmas was lovely and picturesque, filled with cookies, cocoa, carols, and the Christ Child.

Except that Travis was sick with bronchitis and Lydia had the croup.  And it was just two days ago that I remembered to put Baby Jesus in the stable.  And Lydia and I finished out Jesse Tree last night.  And we had to watch Santa Claus is Coming to Town a kabillion times. 

-2-

I think that movie (Santa Claus is Coming to Town) might need to be lost for a looooong time.  When it comes to the propagation of the myth of Santa Claus, well that movie is a class one offender, and the song that Jessica sings is SO annoying!  We can keep Frosty the Snowman, but I think we're going to need to buy some better Advent/Christmas movies.  I'm thinking the Veggie Tales St. Nick movie and a few CCC movies. 

-3-

James has had two cookie swallows in the last week.  The few swallows he had looked good - no aspirations - but mostly he refused to take the bottle.  The feeding therapist says we will continue with his thickened feedings and do another cookie swallow at six months when we introduce him to spoon feedings.

-4-

James also had a follow up appointment with the developmental pediatrician.  We have been warned by everyone and their brother that Dr. M is very pessimistic, Mr. Gloom and Doom.  So the fact that he was fairly positive with us makes us feel pretty good.  His thoughts on James:

- very tight hamstrings (PT gave us stretches.)

- reflexes / reactions are "brisk" and maybe too big (this might be "his brain still settling down")

- he moves around a lot (we don't necessarily agree with this, but he thinks it's "just him, ADD showing itself now, or his discomfort from his eczema")

- the MRI looked very good, but we don't know what the brain looks like deep down - what connections are made or not made, how the nerves are linked, etc.

- his eczema and cradle cap are horrible, the worst Dr. M's ever seen maybe (we've been battling those things for awhile and had just gotten a stronger prescription from our family doctor, which seems to be working really well)

-5-

Travis and I celebrated our Fourth Wedding Anniversary on December 30th.  (Yay us!)  And to celebrate we went to a cabin that a friend of ours owns on some old farm land by the Illinois River.  It was so great!  We went four wheeling and got stuck in the creek.  Watching my husband get us unstuck made me so glad I married a manly man.  :)  He made us a yummy shrimp pasta dinner while I baked chocolate chip cookies.  We watched The Town in front of the fire and then hit the hay. 

-6-

James was "conditionally baptised" last Sunday during Mass.  It was beautiful and over 60 friends and family joined us to celebrate James' life and the Sacrament.  After the Baptism our priest raised James up to show him to the congregation.  While everyone smiled and clapped, James waved.  It was so cute.

-7-

Pictures from the Baptism have made me realized that it is time for me to loose weight.  I am the fattest I've ever been in my life and I hate it.  I made a list of the top five reasons to loose weight.  Here goes:

#5 - I'm pre-diabetic.

#4 - My family has a history of heart problems.

#3 - My children deserve to have a healthy mom.

#2 - My husband is a keeper and I need to keep him.

#1 - When God fashioned me He did not intend for me to weigh this much.   He wants me to be healthy and beautiful, able to enjoy life fully.  That's not possible when I'm obese.

Wish me luck, folks.  It's gonna be a bumpy ride!



how I pull off St. Nicholas

I received this comment, and I think it has a lot of good points and good questions.  I'm going to repost it here, and respond.  I know that many of my friends have gotten rid of Santa and just have St. Nicholas visit their home during the holiday season.  I would love for you too to respond and share how you make Catholic culture jive with the rest of culture - I think it's important that we not ruin other kids' Christmases filled with Santa, elves, and reindeer!

How do you deal with the culture, the friends, the strangers, preschool, asking your child what they want from Santa? have you been a good girl for Santa? is Santa coming to your house?



When they are in school are you going to tell them that there is not a Santa from the North Pole? Is it okay that they tell their friends that? I have not told my 3 year old anything about Santa, but she knows from others. We talk about Jesus' birthday, but it almost confuses me how to fit in the birth of Christ, St. Nicholas, and Santa?? How am I suppose to explain it all to a 3 year old.


I hate the idea of making a big deal of Santa, but I also feel like I can't escape it??


What are your recommendations?
 
My Answer:
What we do is explain that other people call St. Nicholas "Santa Claus". When Lydia sees pictures of Santa she calls him St. Nicholas. Also, we tell her that he lives in Heaven with Jesus. That hasn't been challenged yet, but I guess we'll just tell her that some people think the North Pole is Heaven, but we call it Heaven.


I don't have a problem correcting Lydia's understanding of St. Nicholas.  Ex: "Some people think St. Nicholas lives with elves, but really he lives with angels, Mary and Jesus."  My hope is that when my children talk with Santa-believing kids they will say the same types of things.  "At our house, we call Santa St. Nicholas."  It will take training, of course, but I think it's important not to mess up the traditions other families are doing, while teaching my children to be little apologists.  Then if little Sally goes home and asks her mommy about Santa's real name it's up to that mom to do whatever damage control she wants - just like I have to do damage control.  But when kids still believe in Santa/St. Nick (just different variations) there is little damage control to do.

If a grandma tells Lydia that Santa left some gifts at grandma's house for her, I instantly say something like, "Oh Lydia, wasnt' that nice of St. Nicholas?!" I don't want to "ruin" everyone else's fun - because Santa IS fun - but I do want to slightly edit it so it can fit into what is important to our family. And usually, grandma will then refer to Santa as St. Nick when around my kids.

For people who don't know my family (store clerks, nurses, etc) I say things like, "We celebrate Advent before we celebrate Christmas." or "St. Nicholas fills our stockings for his feast day on December 6th." A nurse recently told my kids that the vent was a camera that Santa watches to make sure kids are good. I said St. Nicholas watches us from Heaven so he knows how he should pray for us.

About this comment:  "We talk about Jesus' birthday, but it almost confuses me how to fit in the birth of Christ, St. Nicholas, and Santa."  This is the very reason I took Santa/St. Nick away from Christmas completely.  I didn't know how to do it, either!  And by consolidating Santa and St. Nick - well that made things a lot easier.  Now, I'm slowly easing my way into all this, but I do hope that through the years we can spend equal amounts of time talking about St. Nick, the Immaculate Conception, Juan Diego, Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Lucy - all saints with feast days during Advent.  My hope is that will make St. Nick just one of many saints who help us get ready for celebrating Christmas, minimizing his role in our household even more.  I mean, as great as St. Nicholas was and is, his rightful place is waaaaay behind Jesus - and I think St. Nick would be the first to agree to that.

All of this can be hard, and I know I don't do it perfectly.  In fact, we have a loooong way to go.

I would love to hear how other people work with St. Nicholas to keep Christ the center of Christmas.  How do you address the issues the commenter mentioned?

My open letter to Santa Claus

First published January 13, 2009.

Dear Santa,

First, may I call you St. Nicholas? I'm much more comfortable with that name.

So St. Nicholas, now that the holidays are over I'm writing to tell you that I'm very concerned. I mean, what happened? For hundreds of years you were this beloved saint, a bishop who loved children and saved three sisters from a life of prostitution. You supposedly punched out a heretic at the Council of Nicea and then proclaimed the Truth. You were cool before cool was a word.

But now you're seen as just being a fat guy in some silly red suit. Sure, people think of you as jolly and an all around good guy, but you've been stripped of all your coolness and left as little more than a large elf who gives overindulged kids whatever they want for Christmas.

I've been thinking about it all and I guess it all began to shift with Clement Clarke Moore's 1822 poem Twas the Night Before Christmas. It's a sweet poem; I'm sure you remember how I had it memorized as a small child. Yet, it removes all of history and Christianity, pretty much changing the very essence of who you are.

Then Coca-Cola got hold of you and there was nothing left of the man you once were.

So I want you to know, St. Nicholas, that things are going to be different in my home. Of course my kids will "believe" in you! You're a real person! A saint in Heaven! But, with all due respect, I don't want you coming to my house on Christmas Eve. And I don't want you giving my kids an overabundance of presents. I would quite prefer if you came the night before December 6th and filled their stockings. That way, on your feast day (the 6th) we can talk about you and celebrate your life as a holy man who lived for Christ. Christmas morning my husband and I will give our children a few presents, and we'll even give them another gift come Epiphany, as we discuss how Christ is the True Gift of Christmas, and how the Wise Men gave what they had to Christ to honor Him. Maybe the Epiphany presents will consist of sacramentals? I do need to think about that one some more. Any ideas?

Also, I don't think we'll be making any more trips to see you at shopping centers. Instead, I would like to invite you, Bishop of Myra, to come to our house for a St. Nick party. I'll invite all the kids I know and when you come, dressed with your miter and crosier instead of a hat with a pompom, you can ask the kiddos what they're doing to prepare for the birth of Christ, instead of asking them what they want for Christmas. My hope is that this will help my family keep Advent, as we prepare ourselves for the Incarnation, and also shift the focus of Christmas away from you and back to the Infant Jesus.

I think this is a win-win situation. My kids will (hopefully) learn more about you as a saint, will see Christmas being less about presents and more about Christ, and will grow up rooted in the traditions of their beautiful faith. And you will regain some dignity in the way you're represented and I'm quite confident you'll rejoice in the way the glorious feast of Christmas is refocused on our Lord and Savior.

If you have any ideas or suggestions I am definitely open to hearing from you.

I am, most respectfully, yours sincerely.
Bonnie E.

P.S. Please pray for me and my family and give Peter a big hug.

Christmas before Thanksgiving

It's annoyed me for years that Christmas decorations go up in shopping malls before Thanksgiving, but now people are beginning to decorate their homes in mid November, too. 

I've always wondered about the people who celebrate Christmas all through Advent and then take down the decorations on December 26th.  Are they so tired of it all that they're ready to get it over with?  Merriment, peace on Earth, Jesus' birthday: check, check, check.  Several years ago I spent so much time celebrating Christmas in the month of December that by the 24th I was done with it.  I'm sure that's not how it is for everyone, and I'm sure a lot of it comes down to how different denominations celebrate liturgical seasons. (do other denominations even have liturgical seasons?) 

But today I had a thought.  In our culture Christmas often has very little to do with Christ but is much more about other good things:  joy, family, love, warmth, feasting, gifts, pretty decorations, feelings.  To me, this shows a kind of bankruptcy - especially when it's Christians who are losing the focus.  And I wondered if we are so bankrupt that we have to fill ourselves up with good, but lesser things.  So we rush past Thanksgiving - barely acknowledging things like food, shelter, a good harvest, fair weather, family, health - in order to make ourselves feel better. 

A Christmas tree and some lights on our gutters are not bad things.  But I do feel like it's incredibly important to be thankful for the blessings we have, and to not lose focus on the meaning of a day that has been intentionally set aside for that purpose.  And I do think that part of giving Thanksgiving its proper respect is to keep the Christmas decorations in their boxes for just a little bit longer.

What do you think?  This was a thought borne today on a car ride and I'm not set on it yet.  I'd love to hear your perspectives and thoughts if you'd like to share them. 

Christmas in Pictures

Miss Lydia is all ready for Christmas Vigil Mass.

Putting the Baby Jesus in the manger Christmas morning.

Helping Daddy open his presents.

Posing in front of Grandma's tree Christmas Day.

Bennet with Uncle Karl.

My brother Doug who has lost an unfair amount of weight recently.  He brought the Bailey's, which is another reason that I love him.

Lydia posing with her new kitchen. 

The kitchen was saved from the dump by her MorMor.  It was stripped, sanded and repaired by her Great Grandpa F.  It was painted by her Grandma.  And it was stocked with Melissa and Doug toy wooden food by Christmas presents.

She likes to give her dollies baths in the sink.

Cutting board Uncle Karl made for Lydia.  He handpainted the "Fruits & Veggies".  The otherside is labeled "Meats & Poultry."  So great.

pictures of things that are new around our house

the house is lookin' good. almost 1/2 is sided. the new porch and steps were poured earlier this fall and the railings will come next.


Lydia's new stocking, made by her Mormor. (That's Swedish for Grandma.)

St. Nicholas brought Lydia a box of crayons and a pink case to keep them in. Also new is Lydia's love for drawing "boo-ful" pictures.

New glasses and bangs for me.

New to us Advent wreath. It used to be Travis' grandparents and we inherited it at the end of last Christmas season. I added the greens and have Joseph and Mary hanging out there until Christmas Eve, when they will arrive at the manger.

Funny side story, last year I assembled an Advent wreath from 4 votive candles and some greens. Travis wanted to know where the white candle was. I had no idea what he was talking about - I'd never seen a white candle in an Advent wreath before. He insisted that a white candle was part of the deal and it burned throughtout Christmas. Only after googling it did I believe him. And now our Advent wreath will forever have a white candle.

New curtains made by Mom from old bedsheets purchased at Goodwill and some blue fabric. Wash, sew, starch and waa-la!

Also new is this buffet. It was handmade from wood from a cherry tree that grew in my parents' yard. A friend of my mom's made it and it is absolutely gorgeous.

Lydia's canines are in. This is the best I could do at getting a picture of them.

My open letter to Santa Claus

Dear Santa,

First, may I call you St. Nicholas? I'm much more comfortable with that name.

So St. Nicholas, now that the holidays are over I'm writing to tell you that I'm very concerned. I mean, what happened? For hundreds of years you were this beloved saint, a bishop who loved children and saved three sisters from a life of prostitution. You supposedly punched out a heretic at the Council of Nicea and then proclaimed the Truth. You were cool before cool was a word.

But now you're seen as just being a fat guy in some silly red suit. Sure, people think of you as jolly and an all around good guy, but you've been stripped of all your coolness and left as little more than a large elf who gives overindulged kids whatever they want for Christmas.

I've been thinking about it all and I guess it all began to shift with Clement Clarke Moore's 1822 poem Twas the Night Before Christmas. It's a sweet poem; I'm sure you remember how I had it memorized as a small child. Yet, it removes all of history and Christianity, pretty much changing the very essence of who you are.

Then Coca-Cola got hold of you and there was nothing left of the man you once were.

So I want you to know, St. Nicholas, that things are going to be different in my home. Of course my kids will "believe" in you! You're a real person! A saint in Heaven! But, with all due respect, I don't want you coming to my house on Christmas Eve. And I don't want you giving my kids an overabundance of presents. I would quite prefer if you came the night before December 6th and filled their stockings. That way, on your feast day (the 6th) we can talk about you and celebrate your life as a holy man who lived for Christ. Christmas morning my husband and I will give our children a few presents, and we'll even give them another gift come Epiphany, as we discuss how Christ is the True Gift of Christmas, and how the Wise Men gave what they had to Christ to honor Him. Maybe the Epiphany presents will consist of sacramentals? I do need to think about that one some more. Any ideas?

Also, I don't think we'll be making any more trips to see you at shopping centers. Instead, I would like to invite you, Bishop of Myra, to come to our house for a St. Nick party. I'll invite all the kids I know and when you come, dressed with your miter and crosier instead of a hat with a pompom, you can ask the kiddos what they're doing to prepare for the birth of Christ, instead of asking them what they want for Christmas. My hope is that this will help my family keep Advent, as we prepare ourselves for the Incarnation, and also shift the focus of Christmas away from you and back to the Infant Jesus.

I think this is a win-win situation. My kids will (hopefully) learn more about you as a saint, will see Christmas being less about presents and more about Christ, and will grow up rooted in the traditions of their beautiful faith. And you will regain some dignity in the way you're represented and I'm quite confident you'll rejoice in the way the glorious feast of Christmas is refocused on our Lord and Savior.

If you have any ideas or suggestions I am definitely open to hearing from you.

I am, most respectfully, yours sincerely.
Bonnie E.

P.S. Please pray for me and my family and give Peter a big hug.

Celebrating Christmas - all December long

First we went to my brother's house. He and his wife would be with her family in CO for Christmas so we got together to celebrate in early December.

This is the gingerbread cake I made. It was supposed to look like a castle, but ended up more like a ruin. Oh well.
The razor Grandpa made for Karl, who "holds his razor too far away from his face".


The next few are some random pictures leading up to the big day.
My adorable daughter wearing her Christmas hat, knitted by a family friend.

Playing with my present.

Christmas Eve with my side of the family.

We started the day by going down to Dad's cousin's to shoot his new rifle.

We celebrate Christmas with a bang. Ha. Ha.

Mom's beautifully set dining room table.

Lydia wearing the stockings Grandpa gave her.

Playing with Uncle Karl.

This is the gift basket I made for K & M. Coffee, clementines, biscotti and some home made granola.

Christmas Morning

What am I excited about?

Welcome to this century, Bonnie.

Christmas with Travis' familyTrav, my guitar hero.

She never really got opening presents.

I love that woman in the red turtleneck.

Christmas is coming

Jolly Old St. Nick - Part II

Yesterday The Dark Knight came out on DVD. St. Nicholas must have been watching out for this release date because when Travis came home from work there was a gift bag on the kitchen island with it inside. He is a very happy man.

My Christmas Present from Trav

I have a new vacuum!!!!!! I've been using hand-me-downs which, just weren't cutting it. This Hoover Windtunnel Cyclonic is FANTASTIC!

This is the story as to why I got it early:

Travis bought it on Black Friday but this past week it was still in the trunk of his car. I was going to use his car to run an errand and because of the snow, I wanted to put a little shovel in the trunk to dig myself out if needed. As soon as I opened the trunk I saw the box, slammed the door and put the shovel in the back seat. Fast forward a couple of days and Travis is driving home and starts thinking about the shovel in the backseat. "No one puts a shovel in the backseat... She saw the vacuum."
When he came home that night he asked if I had gotten into his trunk.
"Maybe."
"Did you see anything?"
"Maybe."
"What did you maybe see?"
"I might have seen some sort of carpet cleaner, but it was an accident and I didn't want to! I wasn't snooping!"
He asked if I wanted to wait until Christmas; I told him it was his decision. He asked if I would use it right away and when I answered in the positive, he got it out of the trunk.

Big shout out to my husband, he put a lot of thought into this gift. He used money from scrap metal to buy it and spent a lot of time researching the best vacuum and the best price. He ended up at Menards where it was $1 cheaper than everywhere else. :)

I'm fighting off Christmas

Because it's Advent, people!

When Travis and I first got married we decided that our Christmas tradition would be to keep the liturgical seasons as best we could. Therefore, right now the only seasonal decorations in the house are generic winter ones and our Advent wreath. On the 3rd Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, we rejoice by cutting down our own tree, decorating it, getting out the nativity scene and playing the Christmas CDs. But the Wise Men, they're on the other side of the room. We keep the decorations out throughout the Twelve Days of Christmas, which lasts until Epiphany, January 6th. That's when the Wise Men get to the Nativity. It's the weekend after Epiphany that the decorations come down.

Before we did this I always found myself done with Christmas before I even got to Christmas. I was all Yuletided out and the joy, glory and awesome significance of the day didn't matter.

Now, when I'm in the car I will allow myself to listen to 1 Christmas song per trip and I have done my Christmas shopping, but otherwise we're really trying to focus on Advent so that when the real Christmas gets here we can celebrate.