Meet my newest ski bum...

This year our daring Dominic was FINALLY old enough to join the Great Divide All Mountain Ski Club.  Joseph and Michael graduated from the club a few years ago, and Dominic has been patiently waiting for his turn to tear up the slopes!  :)  His turn arrived and it was so fun to watch him grow in confidence and skill on the hill each time we went.  I think he will now be able to join his big brothers on the black diamonds!  It's crazy how quickly my kids leave me in the powder!  :)

Here are a few fun pics of our newest ski bum and his big brother Joseph.  Usually Michael comes with us too, but on the day that I remember my camera, he stayed home to have a playdate with a friend...drat.

Here's Joseph doing some tricks in the terrain park.

It won't be long and Dominic will be trying these daredevil stunts.

I hope guardian angels patrol the slopes despite the risk of frost-bit wings!  :)

Gratitude Lifts the Clouds

Like I alluded to in my last post, it's been a long winter figuratively for me.  I had great hopes that the new supplements I started taking a few months ago (progesterone, 5HTP, Methytetrahydolfolate, Vitamin D3, and lavender oil) would dramatically help my anxiety and depression symptoms, but I have not noticed a significant change. I'll give these supplements a few more months, and then try something new perhaps.  But I have found one thing that truly does lift the clouds a bit, and that is GRATITUDE.  Training my heart to be thankful in all circumstances and to look for all the little gifts of love that God sends me daily truly brings joy and peace to my soul.  I still have lots of training to do though, because I habitually forget to give thanks and then find myself lost in the clouds again.  So, this Lent, I am trying to recommit myself to Ann Voskamp's 1000 gift idea...forcing myself to write down a list of all the things I am thankful for each day.  So here I go again:

• my biggest boy playing with my littlest, and both of them loving it
• Nathanael with goggles on in the bathtub
• the way Isaiah says "ma-ma" 1000+ times a day---how I love that little voice
• for the manna God gives me daily in so many ways 
• a 4WD SUV for driving in Montana snow
• a book that sets my heart on fire for Christ:  "Devotion to the Sacred Heart"
• sleep
• sweetly interrupted sleep by my baby boy who just wants to be held a moment
• Isaiah dancing to Joseph's violin ditties
• being needed by a little boy with bad dreams
• hiding in the Sacred Heart
• laughing while cleaning with my big boys
• big boys who still want me to snuggle and bless them at bedtime
• a smile from an unexpected acquaintance
• Kids-Eat-Free at IHOP
• evening prayers with 5 boys on our bed, with Isaiah taking turns tackling each of us
• Pizza Hut for supper--a day off from my nemesis (cooking)
• playing Legos with Lego-lover Natey
• protection during a big car accident on my way to the ski hill---for guard rails, guardian angels, and God-sent helpers (a lady named TJ) to pull me out of the ditch
• alone-time in the ski lodge...and snacking on cheesy fries
• catching up on photo albums
• snuggling with my very sick baby; not even minding all the puke and poop
• gluten-free pizza a Dominos
• watching an old black and white movie with the boys:  "The Song of Bernadette"
• Sleepy-time Tea
• going to Trinity adoration chapel on Thursdays as a family:  the best family tradition ever
• Nathanael singing "Jesus I Adore You" as he gazes at Jesus in the tabernacle
• Qdoba on Sundays after church
• a patient husband, willing to start over and over and over again with me as I learn how to love
• my spiritual director who affirms my soul and gives me hope to keep trying
• veiling at Mass for Jesus, falling more in love with Him despite the embarrassment that I feel

ISIS, Lent, and Long winters

I just can't wrap my mind around what's happening in the Middle East--the mass-killings of Christians by the evil terrorists who call themselves ISIS.  I admit that I have lived a sheltered life, constantly surrounded by loving, Christian people.  I also admit that I don't follow current events very well because our family doesn't watch TV and I don't take the time to read the news.  So when I read on Ann Voskamp's blog about the 21 men killed for being "the People of the Cross," who had their heads chopped off for "carrying the cross illusion in their heads," I almost didn't believe her at first.  How could this be?  But the reality of it was staring me in the face...the picture of those brave about-to-be martyrs wearing bright orange coveralls.

How can such evil exist and what should we as "people of the cross" do to fight it??  Why are Christians in the Middle East being killed for carrying the cross in their heads, when I am able to be proud of my faith and literally wear a cross of ashes on my head to prove it?   Those modern-day martyrs inspire me not to take my faith for granted--to wear the cross not only on my head, but to cherish it in my heart so that I may have the courage to forfeit my life for my beliefs if terrorists come to accuse me of being one of "the people of the cross."

(A very old photo of Paul and me on Ash Wednesday--just to make you smile in the middle of such heavy thoughts) :}

On a slightly different note, I have to admit it that I'm actually looking forward to Lent this year.  Perhaps the fact that there are Christians in the Middle East being martyred for their faith makes me eager to live my faith better.  In comparison to martyrdom, praying, fasting, and almsgiving has never sounded so easy!  But to be honest, the other reason I am eager for Lent is because it has been a looonnnng winter for me emotionally and spiritually, and it seems like God continues to point my soul towards the truth that suffering has merit, that even long Winters will eventually melt into Spring.  I am praying for Jesus to walk with me through these next 40 days and reveal more of Himself to me.  I am praying for the grace to take the focus off of myself and focus instead on Jesus' suffering which proves His infinite love for us...which points our hearts towards hope.  That's what I need to sink into this wintery heart of mine this Lent...the warmth of God's love, and the healing that comes from hope.

I am praying that each of you has a fruitful Lent too!  When Lent gets long, just remember how much Christ suffered for us and that the Resurrection and Springtime are just around the corner!

Dominic's First Taste of Mercy

It astounds me that our carefree 3rd-born son, Dominic, is big enough for one of the biggest sacraments of his life:  First Reconciliation!  Each time one of my sons receives a sacrament for the first time it is so special, so new, and such a reminder that they are not really "mine," but the Lord's.  And what a joy it is for me to watch them grow closer to the Lord!

Dominic felt well-prepared for Reconciliation, but he was still a bit nervous.  I told him I still get nervous when I go to Reconciliation, but it is so worth it because of the abundance of grace God pours into our souls when we humbly confess our sins and ask Him for His mercy--the mercy He died to give anyone who asks for it!  This Sacrament must make Jesus so happy!  Dominic stood very patiently in the longest line for Reconciliation, because he specifically wanted to go to Fr. Marc Lenneman, a young, vibrant priest from our local Catholic college, who is totally on-fire for Christ.   I think it was worth the wait because Dominic bounced out of the confessional with complete joy on his face.  Afterwards, Dominic and I, along with his R.E. teacher and her daughter, went out for dessert to celebrate this grace-filled event.  Hopefully that sweet piece of pie will always remind him that confessing his sins is truly one of the sweetest things in life!

Just as I did with my older boys, I was able to capture on my camera the "before the sacrament jitters," and the "after the sacrament bliss."  So here's the play-by-play!

Nervously waiting in line...

Practicing the Act of Contrition one more time...

It's almost his turn to go...

All done...ALL SMILES!!!

Lighting a candle with Deacon Bob

as a reminder of how bright our souls are when they are clean from sin...

Dominic wanted to do his penance right away,

and for some reason he thought he should do it by the altar...how precious!

Dominic with his Religious Education teacher, Beth,

who is also one of my best friends.

Beth is doing a beautiful job leading these little heart closer to Christ!!!

Oh how I love this happy and holy little boy!

May he continue to grow in holiness all the days of his life!!!

Thank you, Jesus, for your passion and death

which gives us your mercy and salvation!!!

Oh, how You love us!

May we grow to love You more!

True love quote on the feast of St. Valentine

A friend of mine recently sent me this great quote from St. JPII, which I thought would be fitting on the feast of St. Valentine.

Do not forget that true love sets no conditions; 

it does not calculate or complain, 

but simply loves.  

~St. John Paul II 

These words are a great reminder for me because I tend to get confused at times about the real meaning of love.  I mistakenly think that love is about feelings and romance, and when those things wane in my marriage, I get a bit depressed--which does nothing to help the romantic feelings return, I have learned. :\  I need to remind myself that true love is a choice, not a feeling.  It's unconditional and involves a lot of service and sacrifice, and when I love like that, it's even better than romance!

Speaking of romance, my Valentine returns tonight after being gone for nearly two weeks!  I am looking forward to trying to love him "truly," with no conditions, no expectations, no calculating, and no complaining.  Pray for me!  :)

  Happy St. Valentine's Day!!!

Grandma to the Rescue!!!

My sweet mother came for a 8-day visit to lend a helping hand while my husband was gone on a work trip.  She helped me keep my sanity and constantly kept the kids happy.  It was quite a feat getting her here...  She had to deal with airplane cancellations, an extra night in a hotel, and more hours than she cares to count waiting in the Minneapolis airport.  Her return flight back home was a fiasco too, but I'll spare the details.  Through the grace of God, she was able to handle everything peacefully, and I'm quite certain she helped send graces to countless souls by offering up her suffering along the way.  So, not only did she rescue me, but she may have rescued others in need too!  A living saint she is, and I am so blessed to be her daughter! :)  Here are some highlights from her visit...

Grandma and Isaiah were best buddies,

building and playing together all day long!

Grandma always treats the little boys to snacks and rides at the carousel.

In the evenings, she loved to challenge the older boys to board games.

We took a trip to our local Fish and Wildlife museum too!

Our days were full, and so were our hearts!!!

Our Creative Kid

Forgive my lapse in blogging...  Life has just been busy raising these boys, but I have managed to pull out my camera occasionally to capture some classic moments.  Moments such as these ones of my creative 4-year-old who is constantly building with Legos or Knex or Magnetblocks.  It is so fun to watch him work, and I am amazed at how he is perfectly content to build all day long.  He talks non-stop while he builds and tells me the most creative stories of what he is making.  He sure makes this mother's heart spill over with love, and makes me eager to see what he will be when he grows up!  :)

I LOVE YOU TOO, NATHANAEL!!!