Saying Goodbye to 2009

Today we say goodbye to this year, 2009, and tonight my Hero Hubbie has got great plans in mind. Rarely do we have the chance to 'paint the town' and so we have begun a yearly tradition of a fantastic meal to end the year, and begin a new one.

Past years had involved a seafood feast with all of our favorites, including King Crab legs, shrimp and the like, but finances being what they are, this year we opted for a more subtle, still delicious choice: Cornish hens. It's a great tradition, one we hope we can continue, a kind of date night, complete with candles, sweet tunes and my guy. What else could I ask for?

In retrospect we review the year. Our oldest had her First Communion, our son his First Confession, our little girl entered kindergarten, the next youngest assuming her role as older sister and mom's helper,....and our baby, almost 2 years old, mastering communication, walking and eating with a spoon. How our years become defined by the milestones of our children!

I am hopeful for 2010. Any struggles we might have faced this last year only solidified my own personal belief that with God, all things are possible. I have been renewed in the fact that He stands with us, we are not alone. At times, I feel He had been behind me, supporting me, encouraging me. Yet at other times, I sensed God in front of the battle, in front of me, pulling me along where I didn't want to go. And of course, today, as I sat by the fire, with my snoozing 2 year old son, snuggled tightly, I thought of this past year.....and saw God's hand in so many incidences that told me, He was by my side as well: as a friend who consoled me.

What gives me hope? That this same awesome God does this exact thing for us all, individually and as a whole of humanity. So many people suffer out there. So many are hungry, so many are cold. And we have so much to be grateful for. This past year we ate, we slept in warm beds, we had gloves, hats and coats, all our cars started so faithfully, and our freezer was never empty. We told each other often 'love you' and 'I'm sorry' and 'I forgive you'. We laughed, cried, shouted and fought and learned to love each other a step deeper, because we all lived this together.

As we look to this New Year, with all the expectations that I know are on me, as the matriarch of this budding family, I want to take a moment in preparation, a moment to review, forgive, let go and move on. Time waits for no man or mother. I encourage you, take a moment, and review, take a moment to not only forgive those who have hurt you, but to forgive ourselves, for where we lost our way, spoke too soon, reacted too quick. Take inventory and visit a confessional and truly start off the year with a clean slate. Sometimes in all our business we forget to not only ask God for forgiveness, and others for it, we must forgive ourselves. At times, we bring such baggage with us, guilt, frustration, even anger that we didn't measure up to our own expectations. On the brink of a New Year, let us all realize, we did our best with what we had.

Just as a loving father who when a child comes home with a less than desireable grade in school, will ask, "Did you do your best? Well, that's all we expect" so does God our Father, ask us the same question, "Did you do your best? Well, that's all I expect."

Domo Arigato Gozaimasu Nihon - Thank You Japan

First, I apologize. It's almost been a week since my last post, and life certainly has a way to take me over. Arigato Gozaimasu - Thank You We have many commitments, many places where we have promised our time and energy, and when sickness sets in for me or anyone in our home, life pretty much stops....for little while anyway. Thankfully, the illnesses are down to minor colds, and as of yesterday, I am off the meds to treat a sinus infection. But that's not all. It's re-enrollment time at school, and every March we face the same uncertain future in debate...Can we swing yet another year's worth of financial commitment to our Catholic school, for four children. It's a stressful time, it's uncertain, and I have to say, that security is something I thrive on. Any insecurity, and I tell you, life just isn't right. With the children unaware of our finessing the budget, we work to keep that calm and peace that assures the children all wil...

Words Can Hurt

When we first started having children, like most people, we realized quickly how they often work as a mirror to our own actions. Letting a swear word slip here or there was not uncommon in our home, yet, when our first child was about 18 months or so, and hearing my swear word echo in the house for several days from her little lips, well, it was enough to curb my speech, dramatically. And now, swear words are never spoken in front of the children, and we have adopted a few more words that are unacceptable in the house, even though common place in the world. Just another example at how, as parents, we truly are the domestic church. The world may be on the path of negativity, but the home is where we make the difference. My four year old the other day, said, "I hate tomatoes!" Not the worst thing to hear from her mouth, granted, however, the word 'hate' bothers me a lot. 'Hate' is a very strong word, opposite of 'Love'. Think of how strong that word, ...

Little Guys and Big Things

Sometimes, Veggie Tales stick with you. Even when an 8 year old seems too old for Veggie Tale stories, and reluctantly watches a few, the messages do stick. Over the weekend, my Knight was to serve Mass. For the past few Sundays he has been serving, and we keep reminding him of the various ways to show reverence while doing his duties.....a bow to the tabernacle, folding of the hands and so forth. Sunday, I happened to be watching Knight lather his gel in his hair to ready for Mass, and I once again, reminded him to keep his reverent ways about him while serving. He made a distinct face at me, and said, "Ugh, Mom, those other server boys are bigger than me. I don't want to do something they aren't doing." "I understand, but you could set the example, because you know, what you are doing is the right thing." He shook his head, looked at himself in the mirror, and seeing his own image reflected, said again, "I'm the youngest one there, Mom...

S.tay A.t H.ome M.om at Work

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