Exorcisms, Valentine's Day, and Renovations: 7 Quick Takes

#1

Site of recent exorcism.

This story about an exorcism got quite a bit of traction in the blogosphere this week.

#2 

Fr. Dwight Longenecker blogger at Standing on my Head

Fr. Dwight Longenecker wrote about it and the lessons to be learned…I was especially interested in his comments on the need for Catholic intervention when dealing with evil.

#3 

This was the first exorcism
ever permitted by Bishop Dale Melczek.

Sue Brinkmann at Women of Grace discussed the exorcism, too.

#4

Here's my take over at Deeper Truth Blog.

#5 

On a completely different note, if you need Valentine's Day Ideas, check out Sheila's blog. I highly recommend the Dice Game. Highly.

Did I say highly? Highly.

#6

In all our remodeling we have found School House Electric. We're fantasizing about buying everything, but especially this chandelier. What do you think?

#7 

There are two types of posts that I struggle with my inner critic when I am writing. I am always tempted at some point in the composition or the editing to simply move the entire post to the trash icon. Both of those posts are seemingly unrelated. One type is the ones on evil and its influence on the world. I always hesitate to discuss my background and how it has made me sensitive to such things. It is embarrassing, frankly. The other? It's my marriage advice posts. I struggle with writing those, too. I have the same embarrassed desire to just forget the whole thing. What can you make of that?

7 Ways to Help Foster Children in Your Area

My husband and I have been foster parents (and adoptive and birth parents) since 2002. This past week we attended training to become teachers of future foster parents. We are so excited to pass on everything we have learned through the years and are looking forward to learning so much more. We all know that it is a Christian duty and privilege to help the neediest among us with our talents and abilities. With this post, I would like to present some ideas for you to consider helping the needy foster children in our communities.

What does a foster family look like?
Just like any other family,
It looks like love!

#1 Become a foster parent!

Of course the very best way you could help foster children would be to become a well trained, compassionate, and enthusiastic foster parent but not everyone has that option. There are numerous reasons why you might not be able to become a foster parent, but there is no reason why everyone in our communities can't help out foster children in some way.

There are other ways to help foster children 

even if you can't be a foster parent:

#2 Become a respite care giver

If your circumstances don't allow you to be a full time foster parent, is it possible that you could become a part-time foster parent? Is your life structured so that you could take in a child for a few days on occasion? There is a tremendous need for qualified people able to care for foster children temporarily while their regular foster families are unable to. They are suddenly faced with an unexpected business trip or a hospital stay, for example. You'd think it'd be easy for any family to find child care in such a situation, via a relative or a family friend, but it really isn't. Due to the licensing and background check requirements for anyone who cares for foster children, many foster families are unable to come up with temporary alternative care. 

That is why there is a pool of qualified, part time people who are pre-certified and willing to step in. They go through all the necessary training and background checks to become a foster parent, and then they simply wait for a phone call from foster families in their area who need them. Contact your local child protection agency and find out more about the requirements needed to become a respite care provider.

#3 Become involved in annual holiday gift drives.

The holidays are especially hard on foster children in care.

Each year, local child protection agencies take down information about their foster children and present it to Toys for Tots or other organizations to ensure that needy children in foster care are provided with necessities and gifts during the Holidays. People just like you get involved by donating money, going shopping, wrapping presents, or delivering them to the agency or child. Call your local department of child welfare and see when these activities begin in your area and what you can do as a volunteer. 

#4 Donate, Donate, Donate

When kids come into care, they often only come with the clothes on their backs (and sometimes not even that). Not only do they need clothing, all the little daily necessities of life need to be provided: toothbrushes, toothpaste, socks, underclothes, jackets, shoes, combs and brushes, hair ties and clips, diapers and wipes. Each child protection agency usually has a resource room for social workers to provide a change of clothing for a child newly entering the foster care system, so call your local office about the types of items that are needed and the procedure for making a donation.

Our local agency in Amarillo takes gently used items. Yours may, too. If you don't have a favorite charity that you donate your old children's items to already, seriously consider donating to your local foster care agency.

#5 Scrapbooking!

Making a scrapbook helps foster children maintain continuity.

"Scrapbooking?" Yes, scrapbooking. Children in care need to have connections with their family of origin. They need that tangible reminder of who they are and where they came from. Even if circumstances were bad enough for them to be placed into care, kids love their mommies. They miss their home, their friends, their old class at school. Those of us involved in foster care try to keep up a scrap book with pictures, letters, and reminders of their history. Is scrapbooking your thing? Could you help a child with updating her Lifebook or could you organize a scrapbooking workshop for several children? Some children who come in and out of care need to have their books recreated and others need to get started on one. If you love to scrapbook, we in the foster care world would love to have your help! Call your local agency and offer your talents!

#6 Spread the word!

In our communities, there are people who would make great foster parents but they've never even considered the option. They've never knowingly met a foster child or a foster parent, so it has simply never crossed their mind to get involved. We need your help reaching them! Become a foster advocate. Post information on upcoming trainings on your Facebook and Twitter pages. Post this article! Talk about foster care at your church!

#7 Be a great parent!

Work on your marriage and keep those intergenerational ties strong!

Finally, the best way to help children is to be the best parent you can be to your own children. Be a loving parent and raise up a new generation of loving parents. Help ensure that the circumstances that generate children in need of foster care don't exist in your little corner of the world.

7 Quick Takes: The Financial Stress and Birthday Edition

--1-- 

Yes, we're affected, but no, we're not. Not really.

Yes, my husband works for the U.S. government and yes, we're not getting a paycheck until further notice. We have enough in the pantry and enough in savings to manage for a couple of months before we have to go into debt or sell any belongings to get by. In our young adult years my husband and I have both experienced real financial stress--the kind that rejoices that there will be eggs in the fridge for the month because you just found spare change in a coat pocket from last winter--so we know how to stretch a dollar. We have stockpiled for this temporary emergency, so though we won't be getting paid, we'll be getting by just fine.

Pray for those less able to pull through!

--2--

If it were just about health insurance, it would have been over by now.

Yes, if the President and the Democratic Party were just offering health insurance, my family would be well within our rights to be ticked off at the Republican Party (for more than just waiting until almost too late to actually address this issue). But...but...when people and Catholic organizations are being forced to choose between the teachings of the Church and personal conscience and complying with their government's new regulations about providing out of our very own pockets birth control and abortion services, it's no longer about healthcare. It's about bullying. Without more and reasonable exceptions, it's antiCatholic, plain and simple.

If they'd only wanted to provide healthcare for all, they wouldn't be fighting tooth and nail for just those two services. They'd compromise. And if they did, the Church wouldn't be fighting back either. We'd be fighting alongside them. This insistence on free abortions tells me clearly that it never really was about healthcare. It's pretty obvious it's not.


Meanwhile, if we have to sell a car to protect the Little Sisters of the Poor from Big Government bullies, so be it.

As far as taking one for the faith goes, this is nothing to our brothers and sisters in Egypt. Chin up and carry on.

--3--

The Blog Silence

Anyway, if you've been wondering where I've been lately, I've been at home, cutting every corner I could find. Corner cutting is time consuming. Just as an example, instead of buying alfalfa this week, I took a hoe and "hayed" weeds growing outside of the pasture. I'm meal planning so intricately that I only light the oven every third day. I'm a bit busier than usual. Add in a bit of panic at the news and you get an absentee blogger. I'm done fretting now that I've got a groove to get into. I'm back!

--4--

Quick Money Saving Tip

Don't run the dryer, but use that dishwasher: when the sun is available to dry your clothes for free, running the dryer is like tossing dollars out of the dryer vent. On the other hand, using a dishwasher sterilizes your dishes. It kills germs. If you spend an extra $5 a month on electricity and save yourself one trip to the doctor because of a secondary infection following a round of cold and flu--even for one person over the course of the year--you more than break even.

--5--

Quick Sanity Saving Tip

If you are having to cut back and you have kids, start reading aloud the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. It helps change the tone from privation to pioneer. I know it may sound silly, but linking your frugality to living a bit more like Americans of a hundred years ago makes it all a bit more adventurous than arduous for the kids. It also helps the adults get into the spirit of things. There's a whole lot less spirit of privation when there's less complaining.

--6--

Duckies: 

(Don't!) Take Two!

Our first set of ducks were stolen out from under our very noses. There were no feathers scattered about, no breaks in the fencing, no blood splats, disturbed dirt, or other evidence of four legged thieves and our neighbors only missed chickens on the nights they missed locking their hutch, so we've got two legged poultry thieves around.

Another set of duckies hatched at the local food pantry and have grown enough to be a nuisance, so we were called to take them off their hands. We happily obliged. We've moved the pen closer to our house in hopes of keeping this set safe and happy until they can be producing cute little duckies of their own.

--7--

Somebody is Eight!

We are off to the park today to celebrate with our friends who are going to "drop by and play with us." Can you believe that eight years ago, we met face to face for the very first time!

7 Quick Takes in 3, 2, 1!

--3-- I Have 20/20 Vision!

Yesterday I had Lasik surgery done at the urging of my mother and husband. My last pair of glasses cost more than our iPad, so it made sense for us to invest in the surgery. It will pay for itself in just a few short years.

Today I am getting used to crystal clear sight and depth perception. That is one amazing procedure, I can tell you. I am feeling a bit drained and my eyes are not quite up to an extended session on the computer, so I'm going to truncate my post today. Only 3 for me today!

--2-- Since I skipped out on my Wifey Wednesday post this Wednesday in the preparation for being out of action this week, I thought I'd post several marriage positive takes to make up for it. The first one is for Couple Prayer. It's a nondenominational (not Catholic) resource that promotes couples praying together.  Research shows that couples that pray together tend to stay together. Couple Prayer is a program that you can purchase for individuals or for groups.

--1-- Retrouvaille

If your marriage has reached the crisis point or it has resolved into an uneasy truce, there is more for you. It can get better. You can rediscover your passion and love for one another. Retrouvaille is a weekend lifeline for couples for whom the stress of marriage has robbed them of each other.

From the website:

Retrouvaille_™
... a lifeline for Marriages

A program to Help Couples Heal and Renew their Marriages.

• Do you feel lost, alone or bored in your marriage?
• Are you frustrated, hurt or angry with your spouse?
• Are you constantly fighting? Or, do you simply shut down?
• Have you thought about separation or divorce?
• Does talking about it only make it worse? 
  ... Retrouvaille provides marriage help!

7 Quick Takes: Good, Bad, and Ugly

--1-- Ugly

Last month (more specifically the July/August polyglot that was the last 45 to 60 days) got away from me. We had the flu. We had a newborn. We had excuses! Literally. Though we homeschool and though it was summer, we were in such bad shape that our family physician and pediatrician kept trying to hand us official "Excused from School" slips. I took that as permission to flounder on couches and gripe with abandon, but the slips were unnecessary. My husband is a wonderful man who steps up to the plate every time he's called up to bat. Lucky for us, he's an excellent cook because he did more than his fair share of it these last few weeks.

Thank you, sweet guy!

--2-- Good

We have started homeschooling this week. The Kindergarteners are happily devouring their First Grade math program. The Fifth Grader is embarking on a study of the American experience from Greenland to the Moon. The whole lot of them are doing a Neighborhood Unit that will give me the excuse to take my homeschool group on a tour of our the fire station, airport, and local news station.

--3-- Good

I would like to ask prayers for an old, old friend of mine who is embarking on her career as a homeschooling mom. She, like me, has schoolteachers in the family tree, so there is a bit of self-imposed added pressure to do a stellar job. Since I don't have her permission to use her name, you may pray for her under the name of Scholastica, if you please. God will know who you mean.

--4-- Good

Since we are on the subject of homeschooling, I wanted to share this gem of a post from Tara. I like how she has been flexible enough and honest enough to modify her game. She has discovered that sometimes that wall that you beat your head against is a guide and not an obstacle. I also like how well she manages to put the purpose of raising children at the center of her homeschooling. Enjoy!

The Night Before Homeschooling…

September 2, 2013 By Tara Edelschick Leave a Comment

..and all through the house, Tara is procrastinating.

That was the first line of my first blog post, written the night before our first official day of homeschooling.

That was three years ago, and much has changed.  The night before we start our fourth year of homeschooling seems like a good time to stop and reflect.

Click here to continue...

--5-- Bad

This one is so bad, it is ugly, horrific. In England, no one is interested in putting a stop to the abortion of girls simply because they have the misfortune of being girls. Feminism is so adamantly for abortion, that it is lining up against the birth of girls.

Like so many of the unthinking zealotry, do we now see that to be a feminist ultimately means to be against all things feminine? We modern thinkers have repackaged misogyny and pronounced it good. We have streamlined the ancient ideas that women are inconveniently fertile, that everything that makes us uniquely women is an inherent flaw. The result is the same and ages old philosophy: we women must be sterile and we must be as genderless as possible. Feminists are so for us, my friends, they are against us. As Victor Hugo describes this phenomenon, "It is to be a partisan of things to the point of becoming their enemy; it is to be so strongly for, as to be against." (Les Miserables by Victor Hugo)

Thank Heaven for Little Girls…Not

September 5, 2013 By Fr. Dwight Longenecker Leave a Comment

The UK law enforcement authorities decide that it is not worthwhile prosecuting abortionists who kill unborn baby girls…simply because they’re baby girls. Read about it here.

The silence of the feminist pro aborts in the face of this outrage is deafening. What more can one say except that these cruel women clearly prefer the “choice” of grown up females over the lives of unborn females. Why else would they be silent? What the pro aborts are saying is, “We would rather people continued to have the right to abortion for any reason than to have any restrictions at all on abortion. We would rather allow the killing of baby girls by selective gender-chosen abortion than see abortion restricted in any way.

Click here for more...

--6-- Good

Speaking of modern heresies, modern dating has boiled down to using other people for entertainment purposes. Dating is more about culling your spouse from the herd than it is finding something(one) interesting to do Friday night. Here's a How-To on dating, in case this is all news to you...

How to Go on an Actual Date

Ask 20 people what a “date” means or looks like and you will get 20 different answers —different etiquette, different expectations, different experiences, different everything.

Apparently most of us are just making it up as we go along.

Done well, a date is an art and a mystery. Few things are more intoxicating and memorable than a truly great date. Unfortunately, it seems the proper date is becoming a lost art.

Click here to read more...

--7-- Good or Bad, Depending

Just to lighten things up a bit before you head off to your weekend jump here to hear the best a capella rendition of the Tetris theme song ever!

7 Quick Takes: Ugh and Yay!

--1-- Ugh!

The bug that started with a barfy kid the Monday before last has been diagnosed as the flu. It looks like we're in it for the long haul, but there are days when the yucks lighten and we get some stuff done. It could always be worse.

--2-- Yay!

My nephew and his wife had their baby girl last night in the wee hours of the morning. I've seen a picture, but so far, no name has been announced. You'll have to take my word for it that she is as cute as a button. Though I'll share photos of my own kiddos, I let my family keep their kids to themselves. It's not as if they asked for a blogging auntie!

--3-- Ugh!

I've struggled to stay on the budget for several months now. My mom got sick in March, put her house up for sale, and moved out by us, changing the family financial dynamics enough that I've needed to revamp the budget. Instead of doing the work I've been mentally estimating which is the same as not using a budget, I've discovered. The program I used on my PC can't transfer to my Mac, so I've been using the excuse that I'm stuck in a back room to do family finances as a way to avoid the duty long enough to justify buying a new program and manually transferring data. What better way can you think of to spend the flu-induced downtime?

If you need help getting started budgeting, I highly recommend heading over here to check out Dave Ramsey.

--4--Yay!

Given that we are going to be out of action for at least another week, I'd say we wrapped our home school year just in time! We won't be falling behind in our studies having the flu this early in the year. How's that for a half-full kind of thought?




Takes 5, 6, and 7 are interesting articles that I came across this week. They were thought provoking enough that I may be blogging on each one in the next few weeks.

--5-- Modern Parenting My Hinder Brain Development Notre Dame Study Finds

Though I have two major disagreements with the article, I thought this was a great read and provocative enough to share.

Nitpick #1: This title should read "Modern American Parenting" as many modern Western countries do not follow the practices cited in the article. We Americans are becoming too busy, too stressed, and too distracted to pay attention to anything for very long, much less our children. As a culture we indulge, we don't discipline. Not all of us parent this way, of course, but it's far too common. This study proves that bad parenting is bad.

Nitpick #2: They are placing a bit too much emphasis on breastfeeding as a mark of good parenting. I've seen a few moms who managed to breast feed and parent badly. Since I've both bottle fed and breastfed, my kids are a mix of both, and I can say with some authority that I don't love the bottle fed any less than those I fed on homemade milk. Don't get me wrong, breastfeeding is wonderful if you can manage it, but using it as a marker of nurturing behavior is a bit of a stretch. Sometimes bottle feeding is the only option. Let's not pile on the guilt by implying it's bad parenting.

"Social practices and cultural beliefs of modern life are preventing healthy brain and emotional development in children, according to an interdisciplinary body ofresearch presented recently at a symposium at the University of Notre Dame.

'Life outcomes for American youth are worsening, especially in comparison to 50 years ago,” says Darcia Narvaez, Notre Dame professor of psychology who specializes in moral development in children and how early life experiences can influence brain development.'"

Link to article...http://news.nd.edu/news/36653-modern-parenting-may-hinder-brain-development-research-shows/

--6-- Here! Here! I Agree!

This article on that overwhelmed feeling of being a new parent pretty much sums it up. I think parenting one was hard, two was hard, three was the worst. Six is a breeze in comparison. Parenting is hard, but it just gets easier as the family gets bigger.

Or maybe I'm just lowering my standards. At any rate, here's the article link so that she can reassure you that it's okay to be maxed out by the number of children that you currently have. Even veteran moms of many remember those days...

To Moms of One or Two Children

--7-- And Just in Case You Disagree with 1 to 6, Here's a Handy Article

When in doubt, take it personally. 

Link: http://thepessimist.com/2013/08/07/how-to-be-outraged-on-the-internet/

7 Quick Takes

--1-- Monday lasted almost all week

Nothing says Monday quite so well as a barfing kid. Not only did the bug stick around long enough to infect everyone except Mr. Baby, that frantic, overtired, overwhelmed, and under motivated feeling that defines Monday stuck around, too. By Wednesday, I'd figured out that the lingering Monday malaise was simply the fever I'd developed. Once I had it through my thick skull that I was actually sick, I felt better.

--2-- Reason #453 we love our parish Priest

It was tough getting everyone rolling and out the door to our 9th and final First Friday devotion. We go to the latest Mass possible in our diocese. It's 8:30 a.m. over at another church near ours, and we just barely manage to make it. Today was no exception. We managed to arrive, despite our usual mad dasher, with 3 minutes to spare.

But there was no one in the parking lot and a note on the door informing us that there was no Daily Masses today. Of course, this would have been announced in the bulletin, but we don't receive this church's bulletin. This church is our "Friday Church" as the kids put it. My husband and I locked eyes. Were we going to have to start over with the 9 months of First Friday Masses? Again?! This was our second attempt at the devotion, so we'd been at this for almost two years!

We got everyone back to the van and called all the Amarillo churches, including ours, asking about Daily Mass schedules. None of them had one that my husband could go to without taking time off of work (which is impossible on a Friday anyway). Our parish priest, Monsignor Rex Nicholl, asked us what we were up to and we filled him in. "Too bad I have a meeting this morning or I'd help you!"

Well, we struck out. It was so disappointing, but we were resigned to another 9 months of First Friday Masses. It wouldn't hurt us any, we mused, but we felt a little defeated over it. Ah well, off to the library to claim our prizes for the Summer Reading Program, then!

At the library, Father called us back. "I thought I couldn't do an extra Mass this morning, but I can. Come over to the Church!"

He set up and said a special Mass just for our family, just so we could complete our devotion. It was beautiful, as all Masses are, and extra powerful personally because it was said for us, personally.

We Martins will never, ever forget this. Wow, huh?

--3-- Done with school

Other than a little catch up and keep up with math and reading, we are officially on a break! Yay! No more school until after Labor Day. I'm so happy I could spit, but considering what's been going on at my house this week, I'll just keep all bodily fluids contained.

--4-- This calls for a celebration!

Well, we're sick, so let's sit around and celebrate by watching Finding Nemo after checking it out from the library! Yay.

--5-- Andy made cheese

My husband took pity upon his feverish wife Wednesday and decided to take care of all the milk that was piling up in our fridge. He took one look at me and said, "Nah! I don't want you contaminating it," pulled out the recipe book and made it himself. It's good, too.

He's such a great guy!

--6-- I'm having a relapse. Ugh.

Just when I thought I'd seen the worst of the bug, it decided to bite back. I was starting to feel the best I'd felt in a few days until around 4 o'clock this afternoon. Then it struck again. Pardon me if I don't pretty this post up with pictures and other things of interest. I'd rather be a big wimp about it.

--7-- Speaking of wimps

I'm going to wimp out on #7 here. I've just been granted the opportunity to nap and I don't want to miss it. I sure hope there aren't any typos today. If there are, I'll catch them later. Later!

7 Quick and Cranky Takes

--1-- The Day Started with a Bad Attitude

While setting the table for breakfast, "I should take a nap."

After the workout, "I deserve a nap."

Staring at the lunch dishes, "I'd rather nap."

--2-- Interrupted by a Bright Moment: Mr. Baby's First Walk

We went for a quick family walk. The baby smiled in his sleep and it was lovely, peaceful, and bonding to have us all out walking and enjoying the cool summer morning.

--3-- And then came chores, and I was all...

"I'm doing all the work here, ya' lazy spray bottle!"

--4-- I had to catch up on the laundry

By the third load I was like, "The laundry is against me."

--5-- And cook.

"Et tu, hot sauce?"

--6-- Of course, I had leftovers to take care of.

"!!!"

--7-- By the end of the day I realized

Oh, yeah. It's time for Confession.

7 Quick Takes: Quick is a Relative Term

--1-- Nothing is "quick" around here...

With a newborn around, its a miracle we're not two hours late for anything. Who am I kidding? It's a miracle when I can make it to the bathroom on time.

--2-- Speaking of newborns!

Today his very first tears showed up. No more dry newborn tears for Mr. Baby! They grow up so fast! *sniff*

--3-- I'm taking a hiatus from the Garden of Holiness Podcast

I've contacted the folks at Deeper Truth to let them know, so this is my official first announcement. I've been called to be on team for an ACTS Retreat. The preparation for the retreat is 12 weeks. In order to say yes to this, I had to say no to something else. My primary vocation is to my family and as much as I enjoy blogging, podcasting, choir, and teaching, I am as busy as I can already be. For anything else to come into the schedule, something has to go out. A yes here means a no there.

If I don't set limits, I will be limiting my family. So, Deeper Truth has temporarily released me from my Podcasting with them so that I can serve on the ACTS Team. I'm excited. I will have one more podcast this month and then I will return in October.

Thank you friends at Deeper Truth!

--4-- Oh yeah, Milestones!

Anna knows all her letters and letter sounds. She's been reading, but there were gaps, so we went back to the basics twice and have switched programs (again). Hooked on Phonics did the trick. She is very musical and keeps the best time to music of any child I've ever met, so of course this program did wonders. It's very rhythmical. Yay!

--5-- I'm all blissy with family life and all that...

And I randomly check in on the blog and am surprised to see a huge spike in readership. That can only mean one thing, usually...SPAM! I checked into it and lo! It was not spam. These were honest to goodness guests to my blog, invited by Sheila Wray Gregoire from To Love Honor and Vacuum. She is all about marriage and I said a few things here that she liked and she sent a few (!!!) readers over to come look.

Here's a big Texas, "Hey!" to all the visitors. Don't mind the mess.

--6-- I have inspiring friends.

I go to a weekly One King meeting in Amarillo. Yesterday I brought Mr. Baby with me. We talked about fostering for a bit. Then one of the women asked if it would be okay if we, as a group, prayed for Mr. Baby's biological mother all week. It's more than okay. It's awesome.

--7-- God is good, but my editing skills are lacking.

Interrupted sleep will do that to a gal. So, if you don't mind, I will try to distract you from all the errors with the cuteness.

I call all my children "Bunny"

7 Quick Takes

--1-- Finis!

The move is now complete. My mom and dad are now our next door neighbors. The jobs that we were paying someone to do while they lived in town are now ours to do. We've been at it for two weeks now and still have not settled into the "new normal," but so far it's been good. Boundaries, rules, established routines are still being worked out.

I'm learning how to give more to my day than I did before. In the process I'm learning about which things were chaff. It's funny how much of what we do simply keeps us busy. All it takes is a new family member or two on hand to remind you of priorities.

--2-- Hospitality vs Entertaining

Now that our house is almost ready, we've found ourselves having people over much more. We're very pleased to please. In fact, we are a bit riotous while a stay at home mom, five children, four cats, and two dogs vie for the attention of any "new blood" that drops in. (My husband is much more civilized than the rest of us.)

Though we are entertaining in our antics, my husband and I don't Entertain. We're not up for the magazine-inspired theme parties with seventeen different cheeses just for an appetizer. Instead what we offer is simple hospitality. If you show up, we feed you. Even if you show up unannounced, you're an honored guest.

What can we offer? Not a whole lot of much, but I can whip up a cobbler in about 30 minutes, surely you'll stick around at least that long? After that it's going to be close to milking time and you simply must try your hand at milking a goat. Then you'll need some go juice before you face the long ride home and the coffee's almost done. Sit down! Stay awhile. Get a word in edgewise or die laughing trying.

That's hospitality. It's entertaining, but not Entertaining. It's not anything more than us letting you in. That's all we do.

--3--

We managed a feast of salmon spaghetti, salad, and baked bread worthy of a First Friday feast of The Sacred Heart, but I am working on 5 hours of sleep today and need to finish up the school week before I succumb to sleep. I will round out the day with pic of our fishing trip Wednesday.

--4-- I like this one. The fishermen. It has inspired some brewing on a poem about boys fishing after manhood.

--5--
Every beach needs a Soul Surfer

--6--
Two kids suddenly discovered that they knew how to swing, and we learned to be daring on the monkey bars. We even relaxed on them.

--7--

Finally, and most sweetly, my youngest learned how to be big. She took the baby of the group under her tiny wing.