We have fun. This one's a doozie.

And here's how we do it.

Being a proud Cajun. Going to the circus. Putting flowers in our hair. Pulling out said hair with play mixers. Drawing. Playing video games and "Momma & Daddy." Catching beads at parades. Making silly faces. Visiting the fire station. Building our names. Watching the sunset.

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

I know there's a lot of videos, but at least watch the first and last...

Need a laugh?

Pardon the French.

Living Liturgically (or lack thereof)

Trying not to beat myself up too much today (although Ash Wednesday seems like an appropriate day for that kind of thing...), but I've been feeling the weight of neglect lately.

Last year, I felt sort of on the ball with stuff. I knew what feast days and liturgical seasons were approaching and I had my act together enough to work out a celebration, simple as it may have been, to honor and remember those important days. And in the mean time, I somehow found the time to work with Joan on school-type stuff. I made batches and batches of fruit and veggie purees, strategically placed at dinner. My house stayed fairly clean and picked up. Jude and I ran daily. I sewed lots of fun stuff. The laundry never seemed to get out of control.

But not lately.

I could blame my lack of time or energy on a million legitimate and illegitimate reasons (still trying to convince myself that Downton Abbey is legitimate), but the bottom line is that I'm having a hard time balancing it all.

Is that how parenting just is, (or life in general)? Phases of feeling put together and soon after, falling apart?

Maybe I just have to wait this out. But soon, I'd like to feel more balanced, more at peace again. It's why I'm looking forward to Lent. I feel like I'm starting off on the right foot (which is actually the wrong foot), realizing how weak I am and how much my life needs Christ for peace & balance, patience & grace. And sure, it could use a little less reality TV, too. But my answer to the age old, what are you doing for Lent? is really simple, and something I should have been doing anyway. But at least it puts me in my place, humbles me and hopefully prepares me for my Lord.

"Yet even now, says the Lord,
return to me with your whole heart,
with fasting, and weeping, and mourning;

Rend your hearts, not your garments,
and return to the Lord, your God.
For gracious and merciful is he, 
slow to anger, rich in kindness,
and relenting in punishment."

Joel 2:12-13

Verbatim (A Boogers and Poo Poo Special)

"Momma, when I get up in the morning, I'm with Papa - because Charlotte sleeps a long time. And you sleep a really long time..."
"I know. I sleep later than y'all."
"Yeah - and Papa John sleeps a really REALLY long time..."

"Hey Momma, remember when you breasted Charlotte?"

"Joan, don't eat your boogers."
"But I like them."
"You like them? But what do they taste like?"
"Bugs, I think..."
"That's gross. Don't eat them."
"But please?!"

"When me and Charlotte were a baby in your tummy, we were angels and then we fell out and then we grew up. Did you know that?"

"Joan, don't wipe your face on your blanket. Use a napkin."
"But I didn't have any sugar on my hands or anything..."
"It doesn't matter. Your getting it dirty and now we have to wash it."
"But I was just loving it..."(the blanket)

"When my boogers are soft, I want a tissue. But if they're hard, I just eat them."

"Momma, whatcha making?"

"Mashed potatoes."
"I don't like those."

"I know. But you know that's what's in a french fry, right?"
"No... french fries are made out of corn."

"No, honey - potatoes."
"But really it's corn. I know."

"Momma, I smell bacon coming out of my nose."

"I don't like to poo poo sometimes. I don't like to push it out. That's because I'm shy."

This is for Sarah

I met with my boss, Sarah, today for our it's been 3 months, let's re-evaluate how this arrangement is going meeting. And she basically threatened to fire me if I didn't post the stuff I supposedly capture during Evelyn's time with us. So, Sarah, here ya go.

Evvy's first parade!

I won't even tell you what she had to do to get those beads. 

What happens at Day Care, stays at Day Care.

That's better.

Uncle Jude is the best!

In my spare time, I manage their all-girl rock band.

This was taken 30 minutes after Sarah witnessed some not-so-welcoming behavior from my girls. It's proof that they can co-exist peacefully, as they do most of the time.

So, can I have Fridays off now?

Every girl's dream

Her own hand-made typeface.

And if you guys buy enough prints, maybe next year I'll get diamonds.

(But seriously, if you want a copy, don't buy from that store, ask us directly.)

3 Years Strong.

I haven't decided the tone of this post yet, so I'm just gonna keep typing and let's see where it goes.

February 12, 2009, we listed our house for sale. I can feel our foolish excitement and the only anxiety within us was more like, Man, what if it sells so quickly and Jude's not finished with school yet... maybe we can move in with the Herr's until the summer...


Jude didn't even have a new job yet. But it didn't matter, we knew God was leading us somewhere else. I guess we just assumed that when the new job offer came in, the house would close shortly - seems like a practical plan that God would approve of, right?

I still don't get why we're here, 3 years later with a For Sale sign still stuck in the front yard (strategically placed above our buried St. Joseph statue). Yeah, yeah - those holier than I would speak up now with their, "God works in mysterious ways - this might not make sense now, but in a few years it probably will," or their, "God teaches us patience, prayer, and faithfulness through life's burdens," or their "Here's an opportunity to offer it up for the souls in purgatory."

The same folks would then remind me that, "It could be so much worse," and that, "Jude has a good job," and that, "You've got a great rental house, though."

Sorry. That kind of stuff works 6 months to maybe a year of waiting. But when you start hitting the 2-3 year mark, you just want the lesson to be gone and the problem solved. All you can seem to mutter in nightly prayer is a mere, "Let it sell and let it be Your will." Forget the whole searching of the soul thingy because it's too cloudy in there from all the disappointment to even see the step before you.

My point is, it doesn't matter why. And spending more energy on that part isn't helping. We've conceded that we may never understand the why. Instead, I can only dwell on the how.

How have we made it this far, three years strong? A faithful God. Generous parents. Supportive friends. A great sense of humor. And a degree from Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University.

At times I feel cursed and blessed at the same time. But if we have to carry this burden, still yet to be lifted, I am thankful that we're at least in the shape we're in.

This post feels unresolved right now, which is how my life feels at the moment. It feels awkward to end here and since I don't know what else to do, I'll end it like I do before sleep.


Let it sell and let it be Your will.
Amen.

I mean, c'mon God - we even got rid of Steve Stevens...