My Boring Life

"Mom, your life is so boring!"

So came this statement the other day out of the mouth of one of my teen sons. My eyebrows flew up and a high pitched "crazy-person" cackle came out of my mouth, "Are you kidding me?!! Boring? BORING!!! I dream of being bored. I can't remember the last time I felt bored. I actually have fantasies about being bored! "

I don't think said son was still in the room by the time I finished my rant, but it didn't really matter. I do believe his statement wasn't so much about the amount of activity I have in a typical day as much as the type of activity. I admit, I don't jet off to attend the Academy Awards or climb any mountains, heck, I don't even ski. I don't win any contests for my laundry organization system or my plan-your-dinner for a month calendar but, in my daily routine, feeling that I'm bored has never been an issue.

His words came into my mind today as I scrambled to fit all of our obligations into the available daylight hours. Wednesday at this present moment happens to be an extremely busy day and while I longed for a lazy afternoon and maybe even a 20 minute nap, I thought I'd share a typical day in my (boring) life:

I was woken up by Mike at 5:45 am so I could drive him to the bus station because teen son (yep, same one) drives the other car to school & swim practice. After dropping off hubby, I begin my quiet prayer time on the short drive home with the hopes of 10 more minutes to finish after getting home. This particular day, I was met at home by little K wanting breakfast, 9 yo dog demanding breakfast, & a whiny puppy needing to go out and (of course) eat breakfast. I did finish my prayer time although "quiet" was no longer in the description.

Breakfast, clean-up, showers, & more puppy management came next. Oh yeah, I tossed a hunk of beef in the crock pot and dumped some BBQ sauce on top, set to low. Dinner's done!

Our school day began somewhere before 9. By 10:30 we were rushing out the door, books in tow, to pick up R from high school. He and M have orthodontist appointments at 11:15. Ortho done, drop R back at school and hit the gas station to fill up before our crazy afternoon.

Back home for a quick lunch, more school, more puppy management, change clothes & pack up for M's Pickwick Society meeting. (this is a Victorian based girls virtue/craft class led by another homeschooling mom). We stopped on the way to pick up my friend's 3 daughters for the meeting because she had another family obligation. Onward....

The meeting was in a park, which was good cause the weather was gorgeous and it gave the younger kids something to do while the older girls met. Promptly at 3:30 (ok--a teeny bit later) I rounded up the 6 kids spread out in various locations of the park, dropped 3 of them back off at their grandparents home, and headed back to our house with my remaining 3. Once home I led the battle cry "Ten minutes everyone, hurry!! A-- dress for soccer & look for your ball, M--get in your leo for gymnastics & get something to eat, K--go potty." I fed the big dog and took puppy out for well, you know. We piled back in the car, this time with Brutus (the big dog) because he always joins us on our afternoon drives.

First stop (4:50) the gym-- out goes M, second stop high school-- pick up R from afterschool activities, third stop--soccer field, make sure it's okay if I leave A there with coach while I finish my rounds, fourth stop--back home to drop R off so he can shower, eat, & get ready for his Confirmation class, fifth stop--bus station, hubby is waiting, sixth stop--home again to drop hubby off so he can eat & get ready for choir practice & take R to class (luckily at the same place), K & dog get out here too, seventh stop (6:00)--back to soccer field to pick up A just in time before it is pitch black out (no lighted fields), eighth stop-- back home again, finally, so I can get out, eat the crock pot dinner (I am so smart, I applaud myself silently), and give the car to hubby & R so they can go to their evening activities. I don't need to go anywhere again until 8:50 to pick up M from the gym.

It is 9:30, where has my day gone?? I don't see any amazing adventures and surely nothing I wrote is making anyone say "Cool, I wish I could do that too!" And yet, I don't feel bored. I definitely feel tired and think I'm fighting a sore throat, but boredom has not entered my mind. Of course, there are no impromptu romantic getaways with my husband, no spontaneous trips into the city just to find some interesting entertainment, not even a trip to blockbuster to rent the latest release. But what I did do was share a part of everyone in my family's life today. Whether it was listening to A read a first grade story book, helping M pick out a poem to share with her Pickwick group, or simply providing a meal & clean clothes to those I love.

When I was a little girl, I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up-- a wife & mother, and I definitely wanted alot of kids (and dogs).

So, as boring as it might be, it looks like I'm living my dream afterall!

The Saints Go Marching In

Dress up this year has never been so much fun for the kids. We did the usual Halloween stuff--talking about what to dress as all year long and then picking something from the costume trunk at the last minute. The kids came home with their most successful candy load since we've been here. (and no jalapeno flavored candies this year, yea!!) Along with all this fun, a couple days later Michelle, Andrew, & Kaitlyn got to dress up as a favorite saint at our homeschool group's All Saints Party. This is what I wanted to share with y'all (Texas accent).

One generous family in our group opened their farm property to all of us. We set up little games for the kids to rotate thru--all with saint themes like St. Martha's Bake Shop (decorate your own cookie), toss the halo on Mary, St. Peter's fishing boat, St. Paul's missionary journey (tractor ride), and many more. Everyone brought food to share and the kids collected little prizes or candy from each activity. The highlight was the All Saints Parade where the kids got to show off the patron they dressed as.

Getting ready to go: Michelle is St. Agnes (13 yr. old martyr), Andrew is St. Francis of Assisi, Kaitlyn is Blessed Jacinta Marto (youngest seer from Fatima)

Mary, holding baby Jesus, led the parade with the Popemobile close behind.

Here they come:

We had such a nice time celebrating the holy people we strive to be like, and also remembering the souls who've gone on before us that we need to pray for. The evening ended with a perfect sunset and a cross of clouds in the sky.

When we got home, the kids emptied their prize bags on the table. They each got a card of St. Anthony of Padua that was given out at one of the games. They also got lots of candy and religious trinkets. Two more holy cards were found in the mix. We're not sure who's bag they came out of or what game they came from. They were the only other saint cards we came home with. We marveled at the names on the cards: St. Clare & St. Helena. A little sign for us to know that our little saint was with us enjoying all the fun too!!

The Votes Are In

I could write about how disappointed I am that John McCain lost the Presidential Election. I've read the countless emails that've passed thru my in-box telling the horrors of Obama's personal affiliations, questionable experience, & un-Godly values. I participated in the emails requesting days/weeks of prayer, sacrifice, & fasting to plead with Heaven to not allow a man who does NOT believe in the sanctity of life to take power over our country. For months I avoided the liberal media in order to keep my health & sanity intact. I remained quietly hopeful that our prayers would be answered. My daughter said she knew McCain would win because so many people were praying and God would answer our prayers. I then gently reminded her of a gift God has given us all called Free Will. The ability to take all the good we've been given & reject it for our own agenda. She slowly nodded remembering the paradise that could've been ours if Adam & Eve hadn't made a bad choice.

What surprises me the most is that others don't see what appears so clearly in my mind. It's no secret that our earthly life is temporary and not the end all. We are here to live a Godly life and serve others in order to achieve Heaven for all-eternity. Our physical needs have always been met. I'm assuming the fact that you're reading this on a computer with internet hook -up that you're not too bad off! If we lose our job, house, or health we do not have to lose our FAITH. We can choose to Honor God in all we've been given....and have taken away. We can live all our joys & sufferings in union with Christ.

Some people say we can't vote on just one issue. I say we can! Life is the only issue that affects all the others. If you want a leader who will always value what's best for you-your leader MUST be pro-life. Why?? Someone who is pro-life is watching out for the underdog, the one who can't take care of himself, the one who is dependent or in need. Someone who is pro-life thinks of what is best for others and not just himself. I don't understand why this doesn't jump out and grab people. Are Americans so selfish & materialistic that they can only look out for their own needs & disregard the frail & helpless? Do we toss them aside & tread on them as we run to get in line to buy the latest gadget? Do we only keep what fits our plan without regard to what good may come from making a sacrifice?

What angers me the most are the so-called practicing Catholics who have the gall to distribute the Holy Eucharist at Sunday Mass & teach our children in CCD, but then place all that aside on Nov. 4 to vote for someone who goes against all the teachings of our faith! I can only imagine the sadness felt in Heaven over these situations.

I believe an Obama presidency will be an eye-opening experience for many. It will cause people to realize what is Good (from God) & what is not. My prayer is that non-religious Americans or those practicing heresy will re-kindle their belief in Jesus' teachings and depend on Him & not on a person with fake power. I pray that those of us with faith will not keep it under a bushel, but will join together and be a light to others. That thru our actions & convictions we will inspire others. And that if there is a time of sorrow, pain, & hardships to endure, that we will all put our trust in Jesus and know that there is a reason & that good can come out of bad.

I think the best we can do now is to take all the masses, novenas, rosaries, & petitions we so faithfully said and continue to pray them for the intention of the true conversion of President-elect Obama. That way we'll all be winners of this election!

God Bless America and have mercy on us all!!!