A Torn and Fractured Lent, but God is still Good

In my last post, I mentioned that this Lent has been a hard and heavy one--much stress and many decisions to be made.  Well, it suddenly, drastically got harder and heavier--on a global level, and also on a level very close to home.

First, the global level--which I'm sure everyone who reads this is currently experiencing.  Last week the coronavirus started wrecking havoc not only in China and Europe, but it found it's way to the United States, causing a global pandemic and all schools to shut down.  So all of this week, I have been homeschooling my own kids, but also continuing to be the 3rd grade teacher at our school---but in an online setting.  It's been a bit crazy, but honestly, I love being home with my kids.  The schooling only takes a few hours, and then the day is spent playing outside, playing board games, getting chores done that haven't been done in ages, and of course some hard-earned iPad time for the boys :)  But still there are worries in the back of everyone's mind...will the virus hit our family, will the stores all shut down, will we have to do online schooling the rest of the year, will there be a baseball season, will Joseph have his senior graduation ceremony, will we have enough toilet paper--oops, I mean food--to last until this is all over???

These questions and worries all became so little as our next "cross" of Lent was suddenly handed to us much closer to home...

On Sunday (one week ago today), Joseph had a bad skiing accident.  Tore his MCL.  Fractured his tibia.  It was the last ski day of the year and the ski hill was about to shut down for the season, so Joseph and Michael wanted to have one last fun skiing adventure before all the snow melted.  Now I'm sure Joseph wishes they had not gone, but somehow we trust that God allowed this for a good reason.  Romans 8:28 has become our verse of the year:  "All things work together unto good for those who love the Lord."  God is going to bring good out of this.  But it is still hard.  It's hard for me as a mother to watch my son hurting, and to not be able to fix it.  It's hard for Joseph on so many levels, and definitely not something he expected to experience his senior year.  He was looking forward to mountain biking with friends, playing basketball with his brothers in the driveway during this long break from school, and most of all, he was eager for his final baseball season which was about to begin (and which might not even happen due to the pandemic).  But I have to say, he has been handling it like a strong, Christian man.  No complaint has escaped his lips.  I am so proud of him.  We found out next week whether or not he will need surgery.  In the meantime, we wait, trust, and pray for God's healing and His graces to be poured on Joseph as he unites his suffering with Jesus's.

Yes, the coronavirus pandemic and Joseph's accident are both difficult crosses to bear.  It is indeed a torn and fractured Lent for our family, but God is still good and there is still so much for which to be thankful:  Joseph's accident could have been worse, we have all this time in quarantine for Joseph to recover without having to worry about using crutches to get up and down the steps at school, we have a big beautiful house to hunker down in and to have lots of family bonding time in, we have 7 amazing acres of land to enjoy when we get stir-crazy, we are stocked up with plenty of food to last us months and months, we have extra time to pray, and of course, we have the assurance that God is with us and will get us through this so we have no need to panic.  "Jesus, we trust in You," will continue to be our motto.

This will likely be a Lent that none of us will ever forget.  But hopefully, in years down the road when we look back on it, we will recall more than anything the great good that came from the suffering, rather than the suffering itself.

Totus Tuus,
~Maria

Lent...

Lent is here...  I'm not sure why my first reaction is always a sigh.  You probably could hear me sigh as you read this. :)  I guess it's because I'm weak and comfortable and I'm not very good at sacrificing joyfully :}  But I'm going to try to do better this Lent at offering up my little sacrifices.  I truly believe there is so much merit in sacrificing and fasting--Jesus himself says so in Scripture, and countless saints have practiced and echoed that truth.  Perhaps one thing that will make fasting and sacrificing some small simple comforts is to focus on offering those sacrifices for a special intention.  So this Lent, I'm going to offer up my suffering (however small and pathetic it may be each day) for clear guidance from the Holy Spirit to help my husband and I make some big decisions that are weighing heavily upon us.  To help me do just that, I stumbled upon an awesome Prayer to the Holy Spirit, written by a very holy Cardinal, that I am going to pray and meditate on each day during Lent.  According to Cardinal Mercier, this prayer is "the secret of sanctity and happiness."  WOW!  Well worth a try, I'd say!  I'd love more sanctity and happiness.  Here is the prayer and some background information about Cardinal Mercier if you are interested in more sanctity and happiness too: 


Cardinal Mercier, a Belgian lived from 1851-1926, and was ordained in 1874 and eight years later became professor of philosophy at the University of Louvain, where, under the auspices of Pope Leo XIII, he organized an institute for the study of the teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas. He was instrumental in in the 20th-century revival of interest in Thomistic scholasticism. He was made archbishop of Malines in 1906 and Cardinal a year later. Cardinal Mercier worked to secure greater cooperation between the Catholic clergy and the laity and to promote social well-being. In World War I, Cardinal Mercier became the spokesman of Belgian opposition to the German occupation, for which the Germans placed him under house arrest.

"I am going to reveal to you the secret of sanctity and happiness. Every day for five minutes control your imagination and close your eyes to the things of sense and your ears to all the noises of the world, in order to enter into yourself.

Then in the sanctity of your Baptized soul, [which is the Temple of the Holy Spirit] speak to that Divine Spirit, saying to Him:

Oh, Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul. I adore Thee.
Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, console me.
Tell me what I should do . . . give me Thy orders.
I promise to submit myself to all that Thou desireth of me
and to accept all that Thou doth permit to happen to me.
Let me only know Thy will.

If you do this, your life will flow along happily, serenely and full of consolation, even in the midst of trials. Grace will be proportioned to the trial, giving you the strength to carry it and you will arrive at the gates of Paradise, laden with merit.

This submission to the Holy Spirit is the secret of sanctity."

~Joseph Cardinal Mercier

overdue updates

Once again, many weeks have elapsed since my last posting.  I do have an excuse this time, though!  I got a job! No one could have been more surprised than I was!  :)  Due to some crazy, unexpected events, I was asked to become the 3rd grade teacher at our small, Catholic school.  It has sure turned my life upside down and given me little extra time for things like blogging.   Heck, it's miraculous for me to even get the laundry done these days! :)  But I truly believe God wanted me to take this job to help our school during a crisis, and I love, love, love these 3rd graders and will strive to do my very best in teaching them and guiding them closer to Jesus!  Please pray for me!  But more importantly, pray for our school and all the families and teachers there--for God to guide, heal, and bless them.  It has been a difficult year at our school, but I continue to cling to the Scripture verse that says:

"All things work together for good for those who love the Lord."  

(Romans 8:28) 

Here are my sweet 3rd graders!

Other overdue updates:

Nathanael turned 9 in November!  What a fun, smart, and sweet kid he is!  And now that I'm his 3rd grade teacher, it is neat to see what he is like in that environment too.  He makes me a proud mother AND teacher, and I think he and I will both treasure this year in our hearts forever :)  Here are some pictures from his birthday party waaaayyyy back in November:

Opening presents with his best buddies!

He loves this Star Wars piano book and has already learned most of the songs!

He was super thrilled with this Yankees backpack and the Babe Ruth picture for his wall!

Nine candles on a Dairy Queen ice cream cake,

surrounded by friends and love and God's grace...

doesn't get much better than that!

Dearest Nathanael,

Your daddy and I sure do love you

and we are so grateful you are in our family!

May you keep growing closer to Christ each year,

may your Irish eyes always keep smiling,

and may you always know that you are loved--

more than all the baseball cards you ever collect...plus,

all the other baseball cards collected in the world combined!

Love,

Mom

        

Christmas 2019: Sick, Slightly Stressed, but Very Blessed

Our Christmas vacation was not exactly the one we had hoped for, but it was blessed nonetheless :}  Four out of five of our kids ended up getting the stomach flu, and Paul ended up having to do a bunch of stressful School Board meetings because unfortunately our school is going through some turbulent times. (Please say a quick prayer for our school if you have the time).  We were also hoping to go on a short ski trip somewhere, but sadly there has been no snow for the past month.  But hopefully we will still get plenty of skiing accomplished in the New Year.  Despite the unexpected illnesses, the school board meetings, and the lack of snow, we still had a grace-filled Christmas break.   Here are some of the highlights:

1. Midnight Mass!!!!  For the first time ever, our entire family went to the beautiful Christmas Midnight Mass at St. Helena's Cathedral.  Our oldest two boys were asked to be altar servers, along with about 14 other senior servers.  It was such a holy, awe-some sight to see all those young men with their black and white albs and 2 of them doing incense during the holy Consecration of the bread and wine.  I felt so blessed to be a Catholic and to be able to attend such a holy ceremony and receive the Real Presence of Jesus Christ--body, blood, soul and divinity--into my own body on the Feast of His Birth at Christmas.  It really doesn't get any better than that.
2. Watching my boys open their few presents and seeing the joy on their faces, even though they didn't get a whole lot this year.  
3. Cutting down a beautiful Christmas tree with some dear friends who own over 100 acres in the Montana wilderness, followed by great food and holy fellowship.  I am so grateful that God has given us great friends and this gorgeous state to live in.
4. Sleeping in!!!  About a month ago I was asked to be the 3rd grade teacher at our boys' school, and now that I have been working full time, I really treasure the days that I get to sleep in :)
5. Playing the new board games that the boys got for Christmas, as well as lots of card games.

And now for the picture highlights:

Even our cat liked the Christmas tree :)

One of my favorite ornaments:  Our Lady of Medjugorje, the Queen of Peace.

May she continue to guide souls to her Son, Jesus--the only place to find true peace.

Nathanael happily found his presents :)

He really liked this bubble gum bat from his buddy, Stevie :)

Isaiah, happily showing off one of his unopened gifts.

He guessed it was baseball cards, and he was right :)

Joseph chillaxin' with a Coke.  

Drinking copious amounts of Coca-Cola was probably the highlight of his Christmas. :)

Paul got a new Irish sweater and a cuddly kid for Christmas :)

I think Michael was happy with his framed baseball photos,

which shows him making one of the best catches I've ever seen in a game.

I love how the boys find just as much joy watching their siblings get presents.

I think this ended up being Isaiah's favorite gift,

and he's been bopping all over the house with it :)

Christmas wouldn't be complete without another Garfield book.

All 5 of the boys still love reading Garfield comics,

just like my brothers and I did!

Just like Mary and Joseph and the 3 Kings,

our family comes to Mass to adore the King of Kings.

I was so thankful no one was sick on Christmas Eve,

which allowed our whole family to come to Mass together.

My holy and handsome husband praying before Mass.

How blessed I am to have him in my life,

helping me get to heaven.

I love how the altar seems to be illuminated by miraculous light.

The miracle that takes place on that altar is definitely the highlight of Christmas.

"Thank You, Jesus, for coming into our world on Christmas long ago,

but also coming to give Yourself to us at every single Mass!

We love You and adore You until you come again to take us to Heaven!"

Merry Christmas!!!

(Here is our 2019 Christmas letter for those who did not receive it)

God’s blessings be upon you this beautiful and holy season!  In this year’s letter, I thought it would be fun to incorporate song titles from the 80s since that genre has made such a big comeback—especially with our teenagers anyway!  Speaking of teenagers, I’ll start our year-end summary with them—I’m Thunderstruck that we now have 3 teenagers in our house, and one soon to be leaving!

JOSEPH turned 18 this fall and is a senior, which obviously means he’s Under Pressure to do well on the ACT, apply to colleges, submit scholarship applications, discern what degree to get, and Party Like it’s 1999 before he heads off to the adult world of heavy responsibilities.  His Sweet Dreams are Made of This:  being able to play baseball at college while earning an awesome degree and growing in his faith at the same time.  And who am I to disagree with that?  These upcoming months are literally the Final Countdown to college and now we just have to wait and see where the good Lord guides him.  Hopefully he won’t run So Far Away that we rarely will get to see him, but he is looking at colleges like Ave Maria in Florida, Benedictine in Kansas, and Franciscan University in Ohio.  Thankfully, nothing as far as Africa or the Land Down Under, but I’m sure no matter where he goes I will constantly be reminding him to “Call me!” J  When he is not studying or working on college applications, he can be heard Time After Time playing his favorite Led Zeppelin songs on his Eddie Van Halen electric guitar, mountain biking with friends, skiing, or playing baseball.

MICHAEL is 16 and is a junior this year.  He is doing great in school, but to be Straight Up I’ll tell you that he is not fond of studies and sometimes he would like to Shout something like---“We’re Not Going to Take it Anymore!”  He thinks the homework load is unjust and would rather spend his time playing sports.  He Just Can’t Get Enough of playing baseball.  Competitiveness courses through this kid’s veins and he has to work hard to keep his “We Will Rock You” mentality in check.  But we Don’t Stop Believing that his “Won’t Back Down” personality will make him a great leader someday (with a healthy dose of humility mixed in, of course).  To be honest, there are moments when his teenager attitude makes us think, “We can’t live With or Without You, Michael,” but just as quickly, we see a Total Eclipse of the Heart and he is suddenly our joyful, sweet son again.  So I guess we won’t say “Beat It” just yet. J  Michael grew like crazy this year; perhaps that is because he eats as if he’s Hungry Like a Wolf and spends many hours a week at the gym working out like Rocky (this should make you start humming the Eye of the Tiger tune in your head---sorry if it gets stuck there! J)   

DOMINIC is 13 and in the 7^th grade.  He has a Burning Heart for math, cello, robotics, and playing basketball.  When he’s on the basketball court wearing his red team jersey, he looks like a Little Red Corvette, but his coach chooses to call him “the Ferrari.” J  Dominic also enjoys long-distance running and he ran his first 10K last Spring.  He placed 3rd in his age group, and finished in the top 1/3 over all the age groups…Let’s Hear it for the Boy!!!  As you know, One Thing Leads to Another, and now he would like to train for a half marathon this Spring, and perhaps a full marathon someday down the road to follow in his uncles’ footsteps.  This boy has so much energy that if he was asked to Walk 500 Miles, he would choose to run them instead! Now that is what I call The King of Pain! J

NATHANAEL is 9 and is excelling in the 3^rd grade.  He is our little Crazy Train, always running around wanting to play something wild and crazy, like an Air Soft Gun Battle on our property, a Laser Tag War in the dark, or a 5-day Axis and Allies game with one of his brothers.  He is always filled with energy, and is always willing to do something that might take him to the edge of the Danger Zone.    He likes to play baseball, but I think he likes collecting baseball cards even more than playing the game.  With his countless freckles and those Irish eyes that are always smiling, There’s Always Something There to Remind Me of the Russell side of the family. J

ISAIAH, our baby, is already 6 years old and in the 1^st grade, which nearly Takes my Breath Away!  Oh, Sweet Child O’ Mine, how did you grow up so fast!?  What I Like About You is your sweet smile, your contagious laughter that makes everyone around you feel like they are Walking on Sunshine, the way you still don’t mind a Kiss and snuggle-time from your momma, your timid but kind spirit, and the way you always offer to help with chores.  It makes me want to Jump for joy when you offer to help out without even being asked (will you teach your older brothers to do that, please?). J

PAUL AND MARIA still live in our Love Shack in the woods of Montana.  With all the crazy wildlife that we see on our property, along with the wild and crazy things that our 5 boys are always up to, we have thought about putting an entrance sign in our driveway that reads:  “Welcome to the Jungle,” or perhaps, “Now Entering the Hurlbert Zoo.”  Paul still loves his job with the FAA.  What a blessing for him to be able to work from home and stay in his flannel pajamas pants or scrubby jeans all day if he wants to!  Yep, he’s my Sharp Dressed Man J  I am still crazy about him and he still Makes My Dreams Come True after almost 20 years of marriage.  I can tell Paul’s job is very fulfilling for him, but I often wonder if he’s just Working for the Weekend, where he spends his time mountain biking and perfecting his homemade chokecherry wine recipe.  Wine-making has become a fun hobby for him and it definitely has a learning curve.  He’s had to dump a bad batch or two down the drain and say, “Oh well, Another One Bites the Dust.”  But most of his home-brewed wine tastes amazing and we hope you can come sip a glass with us sometime at our jungle/zoo.  As for me, I have started to substitute teach at the boys’ Catholic school, which I really enjoy so far.  I also enjoy my weekly prayer group with my girlfriends and occasionally going out with the gals for a glass of Red Red Wine—because, after all, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.  Lately, I’ve been having fun learning to crochet hats.  Paul thinks I should make a Raspberry Beret to wear around the town, but I told him to Dream On. J

Well, I’m sure you can tell that it has been a blessed year for our family, and I hope for yours as well.  We would be so grateful to hear what is going on in your lives and also for you to say a prayer for us as we strive to be a holy family in this secular world.  There are so many distractions and evils in our world that are fighting to destroy good, holy families; truly, Love is a Battlefield.  The good news is that Jesus is always ready to supply us with the graces and the mercy that we need—Faithfully.  He is just waiting for us to ask.  He loves it when we talk to Him frequently, when we are Livin’ on a Prayer, even just little prayers like:  “Jesus, I trust in You,” or “Thank you, Jesus,” or even, “Kyrie Eleison” (Lord, have mercy)!  Perhaps that is the greatest gift of Christmas—Christ coming to give us His mercy!  Let’s keep sharing the Good News of God’s love and mercy with those who Still Haven’t Found What They are Looking for. J 

Love through Jesus, our Stairway to Heaven,

~the Hurlberts

Family Photos and Senior Photos

With Joseph being a senior this year, we decided to get a good photographer to take some family pictures and also Joseph's senior pictures.  It was a great experience, with great results, at a great price.  It will be so fun to look back at these pictures in years to come...  I wonder what Joseph will think of his hair 20 years from now!  :)  He wanted his hair as long as possible for his senior pictures, so we got them taken right away when the school year started because he knew the school was going to require him to cut his hair to meet the handbook requirements--just like last year. (Rules can be such a drag)! His hair was so long that he could easily pull it back into a ponytail when it was wet!  He was very sad when he had to get it cut, but at least he can remember the "glory days" of his long hair forever with these photos.  Plus, we reminded him, it's just hair.  It will grow back.  And at the end of this school year he can grow it as long as he wants (which isn't too far off)!  Gulp.

But, without further adieu, here are the photos:

And now the senior photos...

Well, there they are! I'd be curious to hear which ones are your favorites because I'm having a hard time choosing which ones I like the best :)

I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!  Even with all the stresses and disappointments of life, there is always so much to thank God for when we stop to ponder all the gifts He gives us each and every day!

Totus Tuus,
~Maria