As with joyful steps they sped
To that lowly manger bed
There to bend the knee before
Him Whom Heaven and earth adore;
So may we with willing feet
Ever seek Thy mercy seat.

Before we were married, Joshua and I would discuss how we wanted Christmas to be celebrated in our (future) family. I felt, as did he, that gift giving on Christmas Day in many ways, took away from the celebration of the Feast, as it put the focus on the getting of things. We settled, quite quickly, (giving the radical nature of the ideas), on two things: 1. We would not give gifts to each other, only to future children, and those would be limited in number (most likely three) and 2. The gifts we would give would be given on the Feast of the Epiphany, so that we may celebrate the Season of Christmas without the focus on the stuff we’ve received.

Today we had the gift  giving festivities with the kids. Here they are playing with a few of the things:

Can you believe that Karol is 7?? I sure can’t. There were times I thought his first year would last forever, now he is no longer a baby, no longer a toddler, but a kid.

…it’s silly, but I am thankful that the van is all fixed. Joshua took it in this morning and they said it was an easy fix and would cost $10. The back tires also needed to be replaced and the back wiper needed to be looked at (I don’t think it is supposed to point straight down) so Joshua had them look at and replace those. All said and done, the repairs were done for less than we planned for the one problem and looking at the receipt, Joshua doesn’t even think they charged for the initial problem.
That being said, we both commented about how thankful we were for the two places we take our cars to for repairs. (One place does great things and has a $10 oil change, BUT they don’t fix everything, the other place does tires and often times the other things the first place doesn’t do.) The last time I took the van to a chain place, they gave me a list of $1500 worth of things that “needed” to be fixed on the (old) van, or it would die on the side of the road. I went in to have the A/C checked AND most of those issues were already addressed or not a problem. (Note: We drove the van for another year and half).

So, yea for honest mechanics!!

For year end 2012, our family has only had one address, one W2, a 1099-misc, and no moving expenses.

For year end 2013, hopefully that will remain the same. We will, thankfully, have another deduction to claim.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Yesterday Benedict was running a fever, as was Caecilia.  He even took himself upstairs for a nap yesterday afternoon.

At some point last night, we had three of the four kids in our bed. Three of the four kids all running fevers. Joshua actually turned the ceiling fan on at some point because it was so hot in our room. I think I managed about 10 minutes with Benedict next to me then I had to vacate the room, I could not breathe. The boys share a double bed and knowing that both of them were in my bed, I grabbed an extra pillow and headed there. I got a bit more sleep, then woke up to the alarm for Mass.

Since the kids were sick and all running fevers (including Margaret), we decided that I would go to Mass and Joshua would stay home with them. (His throat was scratchy and well, I brought the cold home from my travels and I am getting over it.)

When I got in the car, this is what I saw:

I could almost pretend it was a heavy snow covering the windows.

It was a nice chilly drive to Mass this morning. I actually wore my heavy winter coat and a scarf. (To be honest by the time I got to church, I did not need the scarf and by the time Mass was over, the heavy coat was overkill.)

I was able to bring our Lord home to Joshua and Karol, so the half hour drive home was extra time I could pray with our Lord, something both needed and desired!

Last weekend I was able to fly up to Iowa and visit with my uncle and aunt. My uncle is doing very well, he started Radiation yesterday, but the blizzard of 2013 has kept him away from his first Chemo treatment today. The visit was great, we sat around, talked, watch TV (I watched the Packers/Bears Football game and well, it was fun), then visited with other family I have in the area.

I was even able to head down to Leon, where my grandparents retired to, and attend Mass at the parish there. Let me just say that it is wonderful to find little pockets of orthodoxy in the middle of small farming towns! Mass was beautiful and Father even mentioned in his homily that we are supposed to abstain from meat on Fridays still (or in the US, do an act of penance.) How often do we hear that?

Before Mass started, I noted that I would probably be one of the youngest people there, because the community is dying out and most young people are moving to Des Moines for jobs. Then, about five minutes before the beginning of Mass, the sound of Children began to fill the church. There were quite a few families there, with small children (and some families with more than three). The woman in front of me, who introduced herself after Mass, was there  five of her nine. The best part was, the small children made noise and they weren’t taken out, unless they were crying. Nursery? What is that??! Okay, the really best part was, I got to enjoy that, but didn’t have to worry about it, because they weren’t my kids! 🙂

I drove through town after Mass and went by my grandparent’s old house, scooped the loop (meaning I drove around the courthouse) and then headed to the cemetery to visit my grandparent’s graves. It was a cloudy but warm day, so I stayed for a bit, said prayers, listened to the cows moo, then tried to find the grave of my great-grandmother, but I didn’t.

One thing I seem to forget each time I go to Iowa is just how hilly it is. No, really, there are hills in Iowa. Take a look at this: 

I am not sure if you can tell, but there is a huge valley between the cemetery and courthouse. South Georgia doesn’t have many hills, well, in the part we live in, so driving up and down hills while there was pretty interesting. (We might be able to go back next summer for a visit and I know my kids will love them!)

And not to forget, did I mention a few weeks ago, we (Joshua and I) were able to go to Atlanta for a Birra Nursia  (this is related to Iowa, I promise!). While there we met their director of development here in The States. He just happens to live outside of Des Moines, and in talking we all realized we have a lot in common, so he invited me to stop by when I was in town. I took him up on the offer and hung out with Bryan and his wife, for a few hours on Friday afternoon. It was a good time. It is so nice to meet like minded people.  We knew we’d be friends when we discovered that both our families homebirth, own a copy of Nourishing Traditions, use cloth diapers, and of course are Catholic. The icing on the cake (hold on to your socks, Andrea): they had a Ron Paul sticker on their mini-van as well. How can we not be friends now!?!

So that we my trip last weekend, it was hard to leave, even though I was going home to my loving husband and dear children. I am a Midwesterner, I really love the cold/cool weather of December. I like the seasons. I even prayed for snow (it arrived a week late…).

This is what I got to see this morning. I am in Chicago right now waiting for my flight to Des Moines. I am stupidly excited to be at O’hare and giggled when we flew over Lake Michigan. Home home home. I am a Midwesterner at heart. Okay home is Michigan but I’m so close I as might as well be.

I found this link with coloring pages of Our Lady! My girls are eating it up!