Michael's Kindergarten Graduation

Our sweet Michael graduated from Kindergarten today...I hope he's still this sweet and innocent on his Senior graduation day! :) It was so fun to watch him blossom and grow this year. By the end of the year he could read at the 2nd grade level and is beyond the 3rd grade level in math. Math is certainly his passion and he can do any mental math problem twice as fast as his mother! Sometimes it's frightening how gifted he is in math...we might have to start nicknaming him our little Einstein! :) I am so glad that both boys are finished with school for the year. I really missed having them home with me, and I know that Dominic will be thrilled to be their little sidekick this summer! :)

9th Wedding Anniversary

This week Paul and I celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary! I smile as I think back to that twitterpated day, but I won't lie and say that it has been nothing but sunshine and roses along the way. With all honesty I can say that I love my husband more today than those passionate days of courtship, but honesty would also compel me to say that my love has deepened because of 9 years of serious pruning. There were times in our marriage that we didn't like each other much, but with God's grace we never stopped loving each other, which meant learning how to die to self, practicing the art of forgiveness, and persevering in prayer. I am so glad we never threw in the towel when times got hard, like so many in today's culture do, because the result of all that painful pruning truly has become a deeply rooted love in the Lord and each other.

Thank you, Lord, for my husband and our children, for the joys and the sorrows of marriage, and for teaching me what true love is--you showed me by dying on the cross for my sins. Help me to love my husband better each year for many more years to come! Amen.

Andrea's Wedding

This weekend I drove 12 tranquil hours to South Dakota to be in my friend Andrea's wedding. I use the word "tranquil," because I had the unusual opportunity to drive alone, without having to appease 3 children in the backseat with snacks or DVDs or potty breaks every half an hour. A 12 hour road trip through "scenic" North and South Dakota sounds painful, but truly it was such a gift to me. It was indeed a delight to listen to theology CDs that I've wanted to listen to for years (I feel much holier now and ready to convert the world---ha!) and I also made it through a couple laps on my rosary beads as I prayed for friends and family. I especially prayed for my friend Andrea as she begins the incredible journey of marriage...that she and Jim find happiness in each other and increased holiness along the way. Andrea and I have been friends since grade school. We've been through many adventures together, not the least of which being a religious pilgrimage at the ripe old ago of 16 to Medjugorje (a war-torn nation in Bosnia where the Blessed Virgin Mary has been appearing since 1981). She was my maid of honor 9 years ago and has been longing for her prince charming to sweep her off her feet for a very long time. I am so happy for her!!! God is good...He just takes His sweet time sometimes :)

The Smith River Floating Adventure

Paul took the older boys on a 5 day floating adventure on the Smith River in Montana. Apparently, floating the mighty Smith is an important "right of passage" in Montana, so the boys are now officially mighty, Montana, mountain men, able to brave any adventure they embark upon. I decided to stay behind with Dominic, lest we become "fun sponges" and spoil all the excitement with our complaining for creature comforts such as soft, warm beds, toilets that flush, etc, etc, etc. Fun was had by all the floaters, despite a day of wind and rain and one youngster going overboard (that would be Michael, of course, who now likes to brag that he's the mightiest survivalist of the crew). All three of them are eager for their next adventure...stay tuned!