July 2008 Archives

Brian and I have been baby proofing our house for months now that Andrew has mastered walking and climbing low objects. However, we were still struggling with what to do about our brick fireplace hearth. We considered buying one of those specialty gates that go around it, but they are pricey. In the meantime, we simply blocked off the sitting area by the fireplace with our dining room chairs entwined like a puzzle. (Yeah, that was real attractive.) But our incredibly small Hercules always figured out a way to move the chairs or wiggle his way through them. Finally, I saw a perfect solution in one of those parent magazines sitting in the doctor's office. A mom suggested using one of those connect-a-mat floor puzzles to cover the hearth. Brilliant. We tried it and I'm happy to say, it works! (At least until Andrew discovers how to disconnect it.)

A friend was asking me about how I do a morning meditation and how it differs from sitting quietly and repeating an "ooom" mantra. Well, the purpose of my meditation is to quiet myself down (my head can be going a mile a minute) and to turn my heart and mind towards God in order that I may converse with Him, draw closer to Him and allow Him to guide me in the rest of my day. It's basically spending quiet time with the one you love. I admit, unlike Brian, it doesn't come easy to me to sit and pray. I have to work at it so that even on days when I feel rushed, I can give God some quality quiet time. Starting my day off this way helps me to keep Him in focus when the rest of the day is crazy with typical mommy duties. (Some prefer to take this prayer time in the evening or at 2am when they are feeding a newborn. Go for whatever works for you. Start small and work your way up.) If you want a better explanation on how to accomplish this prayer, check out this Meditation Guide that really helped me.

If you forgot to watch Danielle Bean on EWTN last Sunday (as I did,) you have another chance tonight. She'll be on at 8 pm (pacific time.)

Yesterday I had an appointment to see a dermatologist about a small mole on my back. I have been hearing so much about the danger of skin cancer and I didn't realize that it could show up on parts of your skin that isn't exposed to sun directly (ie. through a t-shirt.) I thought it would be a good idea to get it checked out, just in case. As I was sitting in the waiting room, I could hear one of the ladies on the phone calling people back with the results of their tests. It was the same thing - "The biopsy shows it is cancerous." She then went on to explain to the patient the three types of skin cancer (basal cell or squamous cell carcinomas, which aren't as bad, and melanoma, the worst kind) and what kind they had.

After hearing this same speech numerous times, my stomach was tied up in knots by the time they called my name. Luckily, the doc knew my father-in-law and he was very friendly and able to put my nerves at ease. In the end, he took two samples for biopsies of spots I wasn't even concerned about; they just looked like dark freckles to me. He said I'd get the results next week. Now I just dread getting a call from that lady saying, "The biopsy shows it is cancerous..." Ugh. Say a prayer for me, please!

I miss having my family around but I am thankful that most of us are only separated by a 6 ½ -7 hour drive. (For EL, that would be a plane trip, not a drive.) Since it is so hot where they live in So Cal, we usually let my family do the traveling in the summer. (A few days of Carmel fog usually has them wanting to go back to their sunny homes!) Last month my parents were here and this month my brother Rob and his girlfriend Maria came to visit for a few days. After the business of cleaning and finding separate quarters for them, we were able to enjoy a great visit. It was sooo nice having Rob around to joke with and to spend late night hours talking. Plus, we were able to spend more time with Maria, whom Bella just adores! (Bella told me she reminds her of one of the princesses at Disneyland - just incredibly sweet.) Maria is also an amazing artist! I was looking through her portfolio and was really impressed. (Check out some of her work at Rangel Studios.) I can't wait to see who is coming to visit next month...

Congrats to Aaron "Big Daddy" McCargo, Jr. for wining the Next Food Network Star! (I usually wait until Monday night to watch with Brian since we watch Masterpiece Mystery on Sunday nights but he knew I couldn't wait!) At this point, there wasn't a clear-cut front runner so I knew it could be anybody's game. After watching their pilots, I thought it was between Lisa and Aaron. Lisa really won me over after her pilot, and although I'd never cook style of food, she seemed to make herself accessible and she looked great. However, Aaron has been my favorite since the beginning. Half way through the season, I didn't think he'd come near the end, but he got it together and pulled it off. Congrats again, buddy! Check out Aaron's videos and info about his new show Big Daddy's House, premiering Sunday at 1:30pm.

Instead of the Friday 5, today I'll fill out this One Word Meme that has been passing around from blog to blog. I don't know where it originated, but I caught it from Fructus Ventris. Join the fun and answer it in the comment box or on your blog. Have a blessed weekend!

1. Where is your cell phone? pocket
2. Your significant other? brian
3. Your hair? curly
4. Your mother? strong
5. Your father? daddy
6. Your favorite thing? family
7. Your dream last night? sweet
8. Your favorite drink? water
9. Your dream/goal? heaven
10. The room you're in? front
11. Your church? mission
12. Your fear? seperation
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? fit
14. Where were you last night? home
15. What you're not? glamorous
16. Muffins? toast
17. One of your wish list items? road-trip
18. Where you grew up? so cal
19. The last thing you did? kiss
20. What are you wearing? andrew
21. Your TV? nightly
22. Your pets? inanimate
23. Your computer? frequently
24. Your life? grateful
25. Your mood? affectionate
26. Missing someone? often
27. Your car? late
28. Something you're not wearing? shoes
29. Favorite store? target
30. Your summer? foggy
31. Like(love) someone? immensely
32. Your favorite color? crimson
33. Last time you laughed? morning
34. Last time you cried? fortnight
35. Who will re post this? e

Originally, this blog was supposed to be for both Brian and myself but it slowly evolved into my own outlet to post thoughts. That being the case, Brian started his own blog called Beggar for Christ. He said he doesn't have much free time to post but it's nice for him to have a place of his own. Check out his first post Forty Years with Humane Vitae.

Here's one more cool story from CNA that I thought you might enjoy.

Soccer pro retires to pursue Catholic priesthood

"A professional soccer player in Massachusetts has retired from the sport to enter a Catholic seminary, saying he is 'moving on to something much greater.' Chase Hilgenbrinck, a defender for the New England Revolution, explained the motives for his retirement:

'After years of discernment, I feel strongly that the Lord has called me to become a priest in the Catholic Church," he said in a press statement released by his team. "Playing professional soccer has been my passion for a long time and I feel blessed to have successfully lived out this dream. My passion now is to do the will of God, which is wanting only what He wants for me. Though I will miss the game of soccer, I know that I am moving on to something much greater.' " (Continue Reading)

Friends of ours are involved the local chapter of 40 Days for Life and they are doing great work. There will be a documentary on 40 Days on EWTN this Fri (7/24) at 3:30 PM Pacific Time. Here's an article with more info: New documentary to highlight 40 Days for Life pro-life campaign.

I was talking to a friend yesterday about the value of suffering. As a Catholic, suffering is a part of our faith life and can even be seen as a "blessing." This is a hard concept to understand, but in light of the cross, we can see how something horrible (Christ's death on the cross) can be transformed into something incredible (our redemption.) In the same way, our own sufferings, when united to Christ, take on new meaning. It can draw us to a deeper love of God and a greater dependence on his Providence. It can also be offered as a prayer for the salvation of souls. It boggles my mind.

If you really want to dig deeper into this, check out the John Paul's apostolic letter SALVIFICI DOLORIS (ON THE CHRISTIAN MEANING OF HUMAN SUFFERING.)

And for a simple explanation to share with Christians who don't understand the concept, check out Why Are Catholics So into Suffering?

My sis forwarded this to me this morning and I had to share it with you. (Thanks, EL!) It is all together frightening, pathetic and hilarious. Enjoy the laugh and your day!

From Creative Minority Report.com: Ten Worst Baby Products EVER!

We've been watching the coverage of World Youth Day over the weekend and it has been so inspiring. There are highlights from the closing Mass homily over at Aggie Catholics Blog. Also check out the photos and video from the live Stations of the Cross.

Once a week Bella and I have a movie afternoon, where we make a picnic lunch indoors and watch a kid-friendly movie together. (I know my family in So Cal has a hard time understanding summer weather that is cold and drizzly and not 100+ degrees!) Our latest movie was The Water Horse by Walden Media. I wasn't sure if it would be too scary for her since she is leery about any kind of "monster," but she really enjoyed it.

A friend was telling me that Walden Media (which brought us such movies as The Chronicles of Narnia, Holes, Charlotte's Web, Bridge to Terabithia etc) is owned by a Christian man who wanted to make movies that were both entertaining and moral. Here's an interesting article on the subject from msnbc.com.

"Narnia" Studio's Mature Approach to Kid Flicks: Walden Media's Films Prove That Moral Uplift Doesn't Have to Be Preachy

Let me be the first to admit that, on paper, the very idea of production company Walden Media makes me skittish. For one thing, it's owned by Denver billionaire Philip Anschutz, who's given lots of money to the Republican Party and to anti-gay causes like Colorado's Amendment 2. Add to that the fact this mega-rich Christian conservative wants the films that come out of Walden "to be entertaining, but also to be life affirming and to carry a moral message" and all my warning buzzers go off. So how is it that I've become such a fan of Walden Media's films? ( Continue Reading)

For those who have asked: The RSS feed location for this blog has changed. It was formerly index.rdf. It is now http://revolutionoflove.stblogs.org/rss.xml. The "Atom" feed file is http://revolutionoflove.stblogs.org/atom.xml.

It's Monday again and I'm still amazed that the weekends can pass so quickly. Brian is off at work and the kids are still snug in their beds so I thought I'd make a post. This morning I can't stop thinking about a conversation I had with a dear friend of mine who has a serious illness. It has made me really think about the brevity of our lives in comparison to eternity. It reminded me of a promise I made to God that I wouldn't just settle for being comfortable in life, but instead, I'd try to make a difference. I promised to love God with all my heart and to do whatever He asked of me to help others come to a greater love for Christ. It made me reevaluate how I have been living this promise.

I know we all need a little relaxing "downtime," but I think we can get caught up in a lot of frivolous things that, although not bad in themselves, can keep us from doing what we are called to do as Christians - to love God with all our heart, mind and strength and to evangelize the world so others may do the same. So I challenge you to join me in asking God this question: "Lord, is there something in my life that is taking up too much of my time and energy? And if so, please give me the wisdom and strength to correct it."

I received an email from a woman involved with The Fresh Air Fund, which has provided free summer vacations to New York City children from disadvantaged communities since 1877. They still have 200 children who need to be placed with host families for this August and they need help. To learn more, visit http://freshair.smnr.us.

Hey guys, as you can see I decided to give the blog a new look. There are still things I need to add but at least it is up and running again! Brian has also passed the blog on to me since I am the only one who posts here. However, he will soon has his own blog covering his interests so I'll let you know when it is up!

The feast day of Sts Ann and Joachim is on July 26. If you'd like to make a novena to them, today is the day to start! St. Ann is my patron saint and I've had a devotion to her for a long time. I found it especially comforting to pray to her and St Joachim when I was single and looking for a holy spouse and when I was married and dealing with infertility, praying for a child. There many novena prayers you can use, but here are a few links to get you started.

Nine Day Novena at EWTN.com

Short Version Novena

Novena for Infertility

Hey guys. Our blog is being moved over to Moveable type 4. During the process it will have a different look and some things may not work right. It is temporary and will go back to normal soon. Thanks for your patience!

It's been busy the last few days and I am just now taking a few moments to catch up on a few things. First, about the comment box. Yes, it is out of commission again. RC at stbogs.com is helping me out though so hopefully it'll be fixed soon.

I have a few moments to blog here (I usually don't at night) but Brian is busy watching a Green Bay Packers/Brett Favre update. He's a long time fan and this whole situation is quite a fiasco!

For my fellow Next Food Network Star Show addicts, I barely saw the show last night. (On Sunday nights, Brian and I watch Masterpiece Mystery - love it! - so we wait to watch the NFNS on Monday night. I must say that I never thought Kelsey would get the ax before Adam and Aaron but after the last show with her petite dishes and mention of "culinary school" again, I feared she'd end up like Shane, without enough "life experiences" in food. Now I am beginning to believe that my favorite Aaron may actually make it! We'll have to wait and see. The previews for next week look good!

Anyway, I'll write more later when I have more time. Have a good night!

I'm happy to announce that my favorite Catholic mag (Faith & Family) now has their own blog at Faith and Family Live.com. There are some great posts so check it out!

I also want to welcome my friend Maria to the blogging world. Enjoy!

Me again. Yeah, I know, a lot of posts for one day but I’m waiting for the repairman and my desk has a view of the front of the house. So while I’ve been waiting I was checking out InsideCatholic.com and the online version of Crisis Mag. My sis EL used to work for Crisis before she got married and I’ve been meaning to check out their site since then. (Procrastination, anyone?) Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised to see a column from one of my fave authors Danielle Bean. She always hits the point home! I also wanted to check out something EL said about their Online Book Club but I think she said it wouldn’t be up until July 14. I guess I’ll have to wait. Well, I see the guy coming up the drive so I better go. Have a blessed weekend!

Update: Here's the link for the book club.

I used to love doing the Friday Five questions as a fun diversion. I haven’t answered them in ages so today I’m starting again for the heck of it.

What are some recurring dreams you’ve had? I often have dreams where I am in the home I grew up in as a child. I can still be at the present moment of my life but I am living in my old house. I spend the first 20 years of my life there so I guess it is pretty ingrained in me. (Thankfully, in my dreams I was no longer wearing big hair and leggings.)

What is the significance of dreams in telling you about yourself? I don’t see dreams as “signs� in the literal sense of the term but they can be an indication of what has been on my mind lately or issues I deal with often. Other times it is just insane stuff like the 50’s era horror movie dreams where I was fighting giant insects.

How do you feel after you’ve had one of THOSE dreams? I remember one time I had a dream (or nightmare) that Brian was having an affair and his boss at work was telling me not to worry about it since everyone does that these days and I should do the same. I remember waking up crying and being so mad at him. Of course, my Sweetie was bewildered at why I was upset with him for something that never happened. I think I was also pregnant when I dreamt that so the hormones were also wreaking havoc, the poor guy.

What was the last dream you remember? Yesterday I dreamt that I was back in school (circa junior high) and I was talking to my friend Eric about another friend who had died. We were consoling one another when the lunch bell rang and we had to go into the cafeteria. However, we could not sit together because a teacher assigned seats and I had to sit at a table with people I didn’t know well. However, when I got to the table all the seats were already taken so I decided to go back and find Eric. Then I woke up. (Okay, figure that one out.)

When did you last dream about something that later happened as you dreamt it? I once had a dream that I was sitting at the computer typing. Around me there were dishes that needed washing and piles of laundry that needed cleaning and Bella was asking for lunch and Andrew was dumping a container of oatmeal on the floor while I kept typing away at drivel. Then I woke up. Fast forward to his moment...yes, it is just as I dreamt it. This déjà vu is my cue to sign off for the day. Later!

Last week I received an email from a friend who was acquainted with the Girard Family. I thought I had posted the prayer request then but I just found it still in my drafts. Better late than never, so here it is.

Please pray for the Girard Family. They are a strong Catholic family in CT that has endured unimaginable crosses. To put it briefly, last year their house burned down and they suffered great financial problems. Then a couple weeks ago, tragedy struck again when husband Thom and three of his children were swimming at a local pond. Something happened to Thom and he began to drown. His 17-year-old son Marc (who was accepted as a postulant of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate) swam out to try to rescue him. In the end, they both died. They are survived by wife/mom Carol and the remaining four children/siblings.

My friend forwarded the following links if you'd like to read more.

In Memoriam: Thom and Marc Girard

House of Art Journal: Passing of a Young Knight (Scroll down to the bottom of the post for info on how to donate money to the Girard Family Fund.)

Homily by the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate

A recent interview with Thom before he died.

Okay, another quick post about the comment box. I am getting more emails from people saying that TypeKey it is not working for them. I don't know what the deal is so for now I have changed the setting. You'll need a valid email but you don't have to sign up in TypeKey. However, comments won't appear right away so I can monitor junk mail. Hopefully, that helps you out!

I’ve been thinking a lot about confession lately, particularly after just receiving the sacrament on Saturday. I try to go every two weeks at best and once a month at worst. I remember a time years ago when I was living with serious sin and not frequenting confession. Thankfully, the grace of God got me back on track and I am no longer a stranger to the Sacrament.

However, I now find myself in another kind of confessional quandary. I sometimes fall into the trap of thinking, “Well, I’m not doing so bad…at least I am no longer (fill in the blank with a serious sin.)� This attitude always creeps up on me when my night prayers/examination have been on the weak side. Knowing I had to correct this, I made an extra effort with my exam and went to Confession to a new priest from a local parish. Normally after I state my sins, I receive a few words of direction and then my absolution of a Hail Mary or two. However, this priest wasn’t going to give me a quickie-confession. He spoke to me in a gentle but straightforward way that actually brought me to tears.

It was if the grace of God was poured down upon me and I got a glimpse of how much Christ loves me and how my lack of love hurts his Sacred Heart. In that moment, I felt like a selfish wife who takes her husband for granted but figures that as long as she is not cheating on him, it’s okay. However, “not cheating� on your husband is much different from truly “loving� your husband.

After I left the confessional, I walked over to the sanctuary, with Bella and Andrew in tow, to pray before Our Lord and say my penance but I didn’t even have enough time and had to do my penance later in the evening. Instead of the usual two Hail Mary’s I had to say a whole rosary. It was as if God was bringing the point home and saying to me loud and clear, “I love you but don’t mistakenly think that those ‘little’ sins don’t matter, especially since you know better. Where much has been given, much is expected.� Ouch, point taken.

Our Lord wants all of me and I haven’t been doing that lately. I know it is a constant work in progress but I am grateful for these times when I’m given a reality check and reminded that Christ must stay at the center of my heart in order for me to selflessly love Him and sacrificially love those around me. Thank you, Lord, for your patient and merciful heart! (And to that unknown priest, thank you for giving me just what I needed! May God bless you and strengthen you!)

“Be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.�(Eph 5:1-2)

Me: Bella, you need to straighten up your room and help Mommy get the house cleaned.

Bella: Who’s coming over?

Me: Just because we’re cleaning the house doesn’t mean that someone is coming over.

Bella: (Keeps looking at me.)

Me: (Thinking to self, “Dang, she is right. If it wasn’t for the steady stream of visitors we’d never dust or vacuum.� So I admit…) Well, actually, Ms. T is coming to visit us but that’s not the point. We’d have to clean the house anyway. (Note to self: Next time we’re cleaning when someone really isn’t coming over.)

My mind has been in a fog today. I was on my way to taking Andrew for his one year check up and I kept zoning out while I was driving and then having to think, “Wait, where am I going again? Swimming lessons? Dentist? Target? Oh, yeah, pediatrician.� Scary.

I’m happy to report that Andrew is fine and healthy although just a little peanut compared to other babies. However, Bella was the same way and he began life on the small side, clocking in at 5 lb, 12 oz, so I’m not worried about it. I must say he was also a trooper since he was due for his next round of shots. In fact, my sis EL was just asking me about my views on vaccinations. (Did I ever email you back?) I have friends in both camps and I respect both sides. Personally, I am pro-vaccine with reservations.

We go to a pediatrician who is more holistic and into organics and keeping things as natural as you can. He does give vaccines but he doesn’t follow the standard procedure and timing. He does the bare minimum and spreads out the timing of the shots so the kids’ little bodies aren’t inundated with them all at once. It requires me going to the office more often but in this case, I don’t mind. So far we haven’t had any problems or side effects and today Andrew whimpered a little when he got his shot but he was smiling again within minutes. So yeah, EL, we did have the kids vaccinated. Another factor to consider is that regular schools require vaccines but if you’re homeschooling, it’s not as big an issue.

A friend was telling me about a Catholic CD of the Month Club and it sounds great! Each month you receive a CD from one of a number of Catholic speakers. Some of the CD’s sent out these past months include: The Face of God by Mother Teresa with bonus talk by Dr. Scott Hahn - Understanding the Eucharist (Jun 2008), The Seven Levels of Intimacy by Matthew Kelly (May 2008), and A Guide to Raising (almost) Perfect Kids by Dr. Gregory Popcak & Lisa Popcak with bonus talk - Discipline That Lasts a Lifetime by Dr. Ray Guarendi (Apr 2008). That’s some good stuff! In fact, in the time it took to type this, I decided to join. The cost is $5 a month for one copy and or you can get discounted bulk prices to pass along to friends. Check it out at Lighthouse Catholic Media.

Hey there. I hope you had a great 4th of July holiday/weekend. Some wonderful friends invited us up to their place for a BBQ/potluck and we had a great time catching up with them and meeting some new people – finally able to meet some of the creators of blogs I’ve been reading! Since it was a potluck and I didn’t have time for my usual pot of chili, I made a corn salsa I found online at on the Food Network site. It is the perfect dish to make during the summer, when corn is so fresh and delicious! The original recipe is here and my slightly altered version below.

(Non-spicy) Corn Salsa
2 cups fresh cooked corn*
24 cherry tomatoes, chopped
2 garlic clove, minced
2 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro leaves
2 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 ½ tablespoon olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions: Chop the tomatoes then toss them in a colander with ½ teaspoon of kosher salt. Let drain for 10-15 minutes. When done, combine the corn, tomatoes, garlic, cilantro, lime and olive oil. Mix well. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Enjoy!

* Note: I usually get about ½ a cup of corn per cob, depending on the size. If you’re not sure how to cut the kernels off corn, watch this. You can also use thawed frozen corn.

As a postscript to the last post, I turned on the TV this morning to check the time of a show I was recording and noticed that on the Rachael Ray Show they had the NFNS contestants doing 4-minute live demos. It was fun to watch them and see a different side once they were live with an audience. I don’t have time to get into it but I thought Kelsey was a bit off and Aaron and Adam did better than expected. (There may be some life left in Aaron! Yeah!) Shane left me undecided and Lisa, well, I’m still in shock that she thinks it is a bargain that a homemade dinner for three costs $30. For us, that’s a splurge! (At least while I’m still paying $4.60 for a gallon of gas, it is!) You’ll have to wait until Sunday’s show to get the real evaluation!

Okay, I have ten minutes to myself so I’ll make one more quick post for the day. Last night I had a chance to watch my recorded episode of Sunday’s show. It’s funny that the ones I originally liked at the beginning of the show have fallen to the bottom of the heap (except Kelsey) and the ones I didn’t like have risen higher.

Of the guys, I liked Aaron and Adam but Adam went from cute, funny guy to annoying guy who can’t cook well. Aaron seems like a cool guy to hang out with but he doesn’t seem to have the chops to hold a show. Of the girls, Jen seemed to have a great concept – making kid friendly meals but she just never got off the ground. (It was painful to watch her this week and I hope she doesn’t regret at least trying!) My other fave was Kelsey. I didn’t think I would care for someone so perky but something about her is appealing and I think she could have a successful show for beginning cooks.

My surprise movers are Shane and Lisa. Shane started out knowledgeable but dry and stiff. Since then he’s really loosened up and seems more natural. I predict he’ll be in the top three with Kelsey. Also on top will be Lisa. Before the show even started weeks ago, when I saw Lisa’s photo I immediately liked her simply by her style and I had great hopes. Then she talked about her fancy French food and just seemed too uptight. But I think her humiliating spill last week was the perfect opportunity for her to show a more natural and personable side. So if she can continue to make herself accessible, I think she could win the whole thing. There’s definitely no one else like her on FN.

Okay, so my current score is as follows: Who do I want to win? I’d love a miracle and see Aaron rise from the ashes. Who do I think will make the top 2? Kelsey and Lisa. Who will ultimately win? Hmm…..that’s a hard one. My buddy Eileen wants to bet a Starbucks that Lisa will win. I don’t feel strong about it but what the heck, I’ll play. I’ll vote Kelsey.

Disclaimer: All critiquing of the contestants is done knowing that I couldn’t do squat in comparison to them. (I have boiled eggs to the point of explosion and have yet to finish preparing a meal in the allotted time.) So I commend them for making it on the show and giving it their best shot!

On Sunday, Bella and I shared a mama/daughter afternoon and went out to the movies to watch the new WALL-E movie with free tickets we received from a grocery store promo. Bella doesn’t go to the movies often but when she does, it is a major treat! I really enjoyed the movie and Bella did too, although it was a little slow for her in the middle. But as usual, after the movie she went into “let’s pretend� mode…I had to pretend she was Wall-e and I was Eve, complete with computer-type voices. This has become a normal ritual, where as we take on the personas of two best friends and act out a little scene. We’ve been characters that range from Pooh and Tigger to Lightning McQueen and Mater (Yeah, I had to do Larry the Cable Guy’s voice) to St. Catherine of Sienna and Jesus. (Yeah, that one was interesting.) It may be wacky but I don’t mind her innocent pleasures and I’m able to incorporate some of the Christian virtues we’ve been learning into our little scenes. Anyway, I better get going since we’re on our way to her first swimming lesson of the summer. No doubt on the ride over we’ll be playing Little Mermaid & Flounder.