{WIWS} Mom the Photographer is Visiting Edition

Outfit details
Dress: Hand-me-Down from my Nana
Cardi/shrug: Target clearance
Necklace: wooden beaded via Plato's Closet
Shoes: Hand-me-Over from my Sister

Mass Behaviors
Leo: B+ lots of wiggling, but he sat with the group (Mom/Dad/Nana/Nonna/Paw-Paw/Adoptive Grandparents who give him gum and then snacks after Mass) and didn't have any fuss-outbreaks :)
Daniel: C- had a fuss-fest for a while, but then fell asleep w/ Dad.

Nurse Rounds:
Pleasant folks, and no emergencies...so B+!

Don't forget to head back over to Fine Linen & Purple for more fashion-fun :0)

Note to my Nosy Kids Upon Reading My Stuff

{Forget the NSA Listening in on the Phone:
What if the Kids find my Texts?!}

Dear Nosy Kids,

You found my old Facebook, or my old text-ing history, or this blog, or some old Gmail chat session that I thought disappeared into the Internet netherworld 27 years ago: congratulations!

You now know just *how* frustrated I was when you whined at me *all* day, or how hurt I really was when you said that awful thing, or just *how* judge-y I was of that one friend's news.  It's true.  I am a real live person with thoughts and feelings that I've shared with a few people, that may be surprising to you.

You see, back a long time ago, people didn't have text-ing and Facebook, or any kind of *instant* messaging...except of course actually talking to someone, face-to-face, or over the phone (which wasn't recorded either!).  Folks wrote letters, and that can make a very interesting and wonderful record of a life, but what one writes in a letter is very, very different from what one will say directly to a close friend.  And what one says to a close friend directly didn't see the light of day, much less the eyes of prying children.

All this being said, I know that times have changed, and we adjust. I hope that you don't think less of me from whatever it is you find, but I'm not going to censor myself (too much!) in my private conversations just to save face after I'm gone.

I do want you to know a few things though.

1. I love you very, very, very much. You are my best thing, my happy thoughts, my joys and my hopes. I pray for all the best in you.  I have tried to bring you up correctly and to give you the tools to succeed. May you know that you are loved, and seek always to love.

2. I hope whatever you read of me and my past reflects something good on me (of course!), but if it does not, I hope that it teaches you something about life, about relationships, or just makes you laugh.  Motherhood has been (so far!) the hardest-best-easiest-worst job I've ever had. Life in general has been difficult and wonderful. May whatever I've said reflect all this to you.

3. Wash your face and your clothes, brush your teeth, and make your bed.  Pray every day; seek the Lord and trust Him.  Love your family with all you've got. 

...and if I'm still around, but I'm old and don't remember much: don't leave me alone, read funny things to me, and bring me old pictures to look at.  All will be well.   I love you all so much.

All my love, 

Mom

Does Jesus Have a Superman Shirt?

Theology from a Three Year-Old

I really wonder sometimes how parents *actually* pass along their religious beliefs. I mean, I guess eventually Leo and Daniel will get old enough to understand some things, and I honestly pray that they grow up to be happy-holy-healthy-and-handsome all of the time, but the logistics of getting there? I dunno. Right now, I'm pretty sure Leo thinks this is what Jesus looks like:

source

Except, he may have a sword like St. Paul.  Jury's still out on that part.

Leo had all kinds of questions yesterday about Jesus.  He was holding a small crucifix that I have from my grandmother's house, and asking about if Jesus had died, and who had done that to him.  This got Leo thinking about other Jesus statues he'd seen, particularly this one we saw at Franciscan the other day, when I dragged the boyos down for the Kelly Roggansack Memorial 5K race:

source

Let's just say, this one's a fountain, and for a boy who's potty training...one gets certain ideas.

Then he wanted to know where Jesus lives...

Mom: "In Heaven"

Leo: "With Fr. Batt?"

Mom: "Umm...well, we see Fr. Batt at church, and Jesus is there too..."

Leo: "Does Jesus have a Superman shirt?"

That is probably the central question of doctrine for three year-olds everywhere. I am simply not equipped to answer that one. I suggested calling Grampa. ...and good thing too, because here's what came next...

Leo: "Does Jesus have a sword"
Mom: "Hmm...? Well, I guess sometimes He could have a sword"

Turns out Leo was remembering all the statues at church; there's Jesus, there's Mary, there's the guy with the sword...

source

Oh....Saint Paul. Yes, he's got a sword. This lead to watching YouTube videos of Saint Paul's conversion...(yea, there's video of it--who knew?).

Let's just hope my catechesis stays this stellar (ahem.) as the boyos get older. ;)