Makes My Monday

Sunday Afternoon Pinochle School

While my sister, Nina, was here this weekend, in the absence of the uber-competitive card players of the family (whose identities shall remain nameless ), Dan took the opportunity to do some "across the table" instruction in the fine art of the game of Pinochle.  Topics discussed: 1) when and how much to bid on a hand,  2) how to lead if you win a bid, 3) what to do with aces, 4) finessing Trump, 5) card counting, 6) Nina's and my secret cheating code for when we used to play with our Dad growing up, 7) the philisophical, practical, and moral ramifications of cheating vs. renigging when playing with uber-competitive and uptight card players...

It was a good time, as always, but I just took pictures and didn't play.  I'm still recovering from  the PTSD from the cold war card playing in my youth doncha know.  God bless ya, Dad.  Wish we could have a nerve-wracking game of pinochle with you now.  I'd even play.

Saturday Morning Cartoon (One Day Late)

In honor of the last two days of lovely cloudy weather here in Colorado:

What Would You Do?

Posted on the little boys' bedroom door yesterday afternoon:

Would you take a peek if you passed this sign?

Gabe, most comfortable
in a shirt and tie...

We have two little boys, ages six and eight.  Gabe, the bigger brother, is an early bird, neat as a pin, very anxious that things are orderly and under control.  William, the baby of the family, would sleep 'til noon if we let him, is a complete slob and is the mastermind of most of the disorder, chaos, and silliness in our house.  Of course, these two opposites share a room together -- which is good and bad.  As you would guess, William drives Gabe crazy with his mess; Gabe drives William crazy with his persnicketiness.  But, the two together, if you can stand the constant verbal "adjustments" going on all the time, actually manage to keep things right about level.  William lightens up Gabe's structure; Gabe tones down Williams exuberance.  Their room fluctuates between bedlam and Good Housekeeping, but usually ends up tolerable.  It's all good.  And how God intended, I have no doubt.

William, most comfortable
with Minions...

We've often marveled at how, given complete control over the spacing and kid-choice in our family, God has, in His wisdom and goodness, arranged our children in such perfect juxtapositions.  It's no accident that structured, disciplined Paul was placed right next to happy-go-lucky Kevin, who is inspired by creative, but moody Jon, who is moderated by level-headed, fun-loving Dominic.  Carefree Michelle enjoys Dominic's zany side, but is tempered by his common sense at the same time Michelle provides a good foil for Theresa's studiousness and philisophical bent, while Cathy's practical, no-nonsense ways shore up serious Theresa and Zany Anna, who brings up the rear of the "girl block," setting the stage for the little boys -- who haven't got a chance of straying too far with so many big brothers and sisters intent on them shaping up properly. (Deep breath.)

But, do you see the perfect poetry in God's plan?  It tickles my heart to see it in action.  Given proper encouragement and understanding of their roles toward one another, everyone thrives with the influence of every other sibling.  Though it's not always easy to remember that's what's going on...  The children know God gave each to other(s) as a gift -- and sometimes a challenge.  Sometimes it's a real pain in the small picture...  but in the big picture, it is a very good thing. 

So, would you have opened the door?

Were you wondering if I peeked?

You bet I did!

And this is how it looked:

I have totally seen worse.  But Gabe expected better.  God bless him.
But, having a little of William in me, I can't help but look at the tableau  of play here
and understand why William wasn't ready to clean up yet.  Seriously.  T-Rex against
two pirate ships and a couple dozen army guys?  Ya gotta wonder how that one came out.

Update, Illustrated

So... Does anyone wonder what on earth has happened to my blog?  Does anyone stop by to check any more?  It's been sporadic, huh?  (At best!)  I used to update every day -- but, ohmygoodness, life has just gotten so.... daily.   There has been an awful lot going on -- and I haven't always had access to a computer.   Then, when I could get to a computer, I've been too pooped to do anything with it. Those who've been around me, know that I'm struggling with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, which makes everything feel like an uphill walk in a swamp, which adds to the difficulty.  But, really, any idea I had of a quiet, relaxed summer, where I get to read whole novels, putter around in my flower garden, poke around finding fun things to do in the coming school year, and leisurely work on our new house... has just not materialized.  So far that idea has been just a hazy, cloudlike plan floating above my head -- and the real life needs and wants and unexpected happenings of a big family keep blowing it aside, sometimes like a gentle breeze, sometimes more like a tsunami. But -- really -- I'm not complaining.  It's all good.

Uh, I think.  Yeah.  Mostly good.  Ninety-seven and a half percent good.

And I keeping running around gathering up my wishful thinking cloud and patting it back into shape.  I haven't given up hope that I'll get a bit of a restful summer yet...

But, anyway -- Here's the latest news around here:

First of all, Michelle turned seventeen the end of June, and being graduated and home from Omaha for good, got her learner's permit -- and has been out on the roads now (with me or her Dad or brother Kevin) for three weeks.  Which is -- uh -- mostly good.  I think.

Out of all our cars to learn in, this is her vehicle of choice, though:

Naturally.

She's very pleased with herself  that she's gotten to drive the "Monster," but she really does prefer driving the little Toyota -- and she's doing a very good job in the little car.  She drove all the way up to the top of Grand Mesa today (narrow, twisty, two lane hwy all the way) with no trouble -- but, if you happen down one of  the narrow little dirt roads around our house and see her coming toward you in the big ole silver truck, you, uh, might want to scoot all the way over....  Or turn onto a side road before she gets to you...

Also...  When my Mom headed out to visit her family in North Carolina a couple weeks ago (Yay, Mom!!), my sisters and I got to spend some time looking out for our Dad (who has alzheimers).  The trip to Denver did double triple quadruple duty because it coincided with the St. Mechtilde Music Festival, which Michelle, Theresa, and Cathy attended.  Then, in a spur of the moment decision, Number Four Son, Brother Pius/Dominic made the decision to come home in order to beat the Epstein Bar/Chronic Fatigue problem he's been struggling with, too.  So, I drove out to North Platte, NE to meet him and his chauffeurs, Brother Francis (far left in photo below) and his brother, Brother Philip (far right).

We had a very enjoyable lunch at the Ruby Tuesday's in North Platte; the nice waitress gave us 25% off our bill, even!  Pays to go out to lunch with three handsome, polite Seminarians, let me tell you!  :0)

On the way back to Denver, we went right through the Last Chance Fire area, the day after the fire was contained.  38,000 acres of grasslands burned.  It was a horrible sight to see.  Thankfully, only a couple houses were lost, though, and nobody was injured.

Last Chance, Colorado is very close to Byers, our old hometown on the eastern plains.

Look how close this house came to being burned!  Thank God and the brave and determined firefighters that saved many homes in the recent Colorado wildfires.

Then, after staying a few more days in Denver, wherein Dominic was a tremendous help caring for his Grandad and helping in a crisis of my brother, Greg's, health, we got to take a leisurely drive home over the Rockies, via beautiful McClure Pass.

Dominic making a funny face while taking a picture of Hayes Falls, near Carbondale.

Hayes Falls

The Back of Dominic's head as he takes a picture from the peak of McClure Pass.

The picture taken from the peak of McClure Pass.

 And then some more...  Dominic and I got home on a Sunday, then on Monday, the Feast of the Visitation, we were honored to attend the ceremony in which our friend, Brian, was received as a postulant into the Benedictine Monastary of St. Augustine. 

Above and Below: Fr. Bernard, prior of the monastary (left), and Brian (right)

Congratulations to Brian!  Our prayers are with you and with St. Augustine's!

Then...  Wednesday, the Fourth of July, we had a barbecue.

And a break in the weather!  After a heatwave of what felt like six years of high-ninety and hundred degree weather, the Fourth of July ushered in what has been a delightful spate of cool weather -- with evening showers and occasional thunderstorms.  Which we will take.  Oh, yes, indeed.  Woohoo!  

And...  Dominic, who's driving career was suspended by boarding in Omaha in High School then joining the seminary immediately) just got his driver's permit, and is working toward his license, too. So there are lot of exciting little side trips being taken around here with two teenagers newly behind the wheel.  (More on that later...)


But it was a couple nights ago, just after a lovely rain storm, that our neighbor's horse, Girlie, wandered over to taste some of the weeds herbs growing in our side yard. One of the children spotted her, and we all ran out just as a rainbow was forming in the sky. It was a cool, beautiful night.  The air smelled so fresh.  And so it was the most natural thing in the world: Dan found a rope to lead her with, and everyone fell in after him to walk Girlie home.  The seven youngest of our children were all together, laughing and joking and playing on the way; Noey-dog did her best to get underfoot....  There was nothing "stand out" about the evening; it wasn't even an "event" -- it was just a small pleasant chore done together, a simple quiet tick of the clock in our lives.

 But, of all the events of the past weeks (save one that I'll share later that is of more sublime and eternal importance) -- all the fun of the music festival;  the great time with our friends at the barbecue; the bittersweet silliness and stress of caring for my Dad; the day spent at the hospital with my brother; the spur of the moment ride to Nebraska to get Dominic and the giddy-happy ride home with him so eager to see his family; of Brian's awesome and wonderful ceremony; etc.,  I think it was this short evening, walking a horse home under a rainbow, that will stay in my mind forever.  The peace and contentment of home and family.  God in His heaven, all right with the world.   I hope these simple things will last as long as I'll keep the memory.

Blessings and Best Wishes to all who stop here.  I expect I'll be around again soon.  Watch for me just in case. :0)

Saturday Morning Cartoons

"Grilling and Guinness...

It just doesn't get better than that."
~ Dan

The Grillmaster

All our love and undying admiration to the guy who wants to cook for everyone else on Father's Day!  Hugs and Kisses and -- hang on while I run and get you a refill on the Guinness...


Also....  Happiest Father's Day to both our beloved grandfathers...
Dan's Dad:

With his buddy, Gavin.

 My Dad:

With his buddy, William.

And Papa Paul, too!!  (Can't wait til you're back together with your little guy and his Momma!)

 

We love you guys!

Better Than Saturday Morning Cartoons

If this doesn't make you laugh, you might oughta check your pulse...

The Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

 The Sacred Heart by Ira Thomas,

Prayer of Reparation to the Sacred Heart

O sweet Jesus, Whose overflowing charity for me is requited by so much forgetfulness, negligence and contempt, behold us prostrate before Your alter (in Your presence) eager to repair by a special act of homage the cruel indifference and injuries, to which Your loving Heart is everywhere subject.

Mindful alas! that we ourselves have had a share in such great indignities, which we now deplore from the depths of our hearts, we humbly ask Your pardon and declare our readiness to atone by voluntary expiation not only for our own personal offenses, but also for the sins of those, who, straying for from the path of salvation, refuse in their obstinate infidelity to follow You, their Shepherd and Leader, or, renouncing the vows of their baptism, have cast off the sweet yoke of Your Law. We are now resolved to expiate each and every deplorable outrage committed against You; we are determined to make amends for the manifold offenses against Christian modesty in unbecoming dress and behavior, for all the foul seductions laid to ensnare the feet of the innocent, for the frequent violations of Sundays and holidays, and the shocking blasphemies uttered against You and Your Saints. We wish also to make amends for the insults to which Your Vicar on earth and Your priest are subjected, for the profanation, by conscious neglect or terrible acts of sacrilege, of the very Sacrament of Your Divine Love; and lastly for the public crimes of nations who resist the rights and teaching authority of the Church which You have founded. Would, O divine Jesus, we were able to wash away such abominations with our blood. We now offer, in reparation for these violations of Your divine honor, the satisfaction You once made to Your eternal Father on the cross and which You continue to renews daily on our altars; we offer it in union with the acts of atonement of Your Virgin Mother and all the Saints and of the pious faithful on earth; and we sincerely promise to make recompense, as far as we can with the help of Your grace, for all neglect of Your great love and for the sins we and others have committed in the past. Henceforth we will live a life of unwavering faith, of purity of conduct, of perfect observance of the precepts of the gospel and especially that of charity. We promise to the best of our power to prevent other from offending You and to bring as many as possible to follow You.

O loving Jesus, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our model in reparation, deign to receive the voluntary offering we make of this act of expiation; and by the crowing gift of perseverance keep us faithful unto death in our duty and the allegiance we owe to You, so that we may one day come to that happy home, where You with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, God, world without end. Amen.

Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (The story of the apparitions of the Sacred Heart to St. Margaret Mary can be found here. But, for the story in her own words, her autobiography is in print and can be obtained here.) In response to those who consecrate themselves and make reparations to His Sacred Heart:  He will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life. He will establish peace in their homes. He will comfort them in all their afflictions. He will be their secure refuge during life, and above all, in death. He will bestow abundant blessings upon all their undertakings. Sinners will find in His Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy. Lukewarm souls shall become fervent. Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection. He will bless every place in which an image of His Heart is exposed and honored. He will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts. Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in His Heart. In the excessive mercy of His Heart, His all-powerful love will grant to all those who  receive Holy Communion on the First Fridays in nine consecutive months the grace of  final perseverance; they shall not die in His disgrace, nor without receiving their sacraments.  His divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment. The devotions attached to these promises are: Receiving Communion frequently First Fridays: going to Confession and receiving the Eucharist on the first Friday  of each month for nine consecutive months. Many parishes will offer public First Friday  devotions; if they do, you must perform First Fridays publicly. If it isn’t so offered in your parish,  you can do this privately, going to Confession, receiving the Eucharist, and offering your  prayers for the intention of the Church. Holy Hour: Eucharistic Adoration for one hour on Thursdays. (“Could you not watch one hour with me?”) Holy Hour can be made alone or as part of a group with formal  prayers. Enthronement of the Sacred Heart (as follows) Enthronement of the Sacred Heart Enthronement of the SaFather Mateo Crawley-Boevey, a South American priest  of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesusand Mary, was inspired by  God, after his instantaneous cure at Paray-le-Monial, to preach everywhere  the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart to verify this promise of the Saviour given  to St. Margaret Mary:  "I will bless every dwelling where an image of My Heart is both exposed and  honoured."  Enthronement of the Sacred Heart is a solemn act of a family giving formal  recognition of the kingship of Christ over their family and home and the official,  ceremonial beginning of a family's commitment to live out the effects of their  recognition of Christ's Kingship. During the Enthronement ceremony, a  blessed image of the Sacred Heart is hung in the most prominent place in  the house and Sacred Scripture is placed before it.  You can print out the  traditional form of the Enthronement in a Microsoft Word .doc format - - 8 pages -- click here). To Celebrate the Day * A beautiful coloring page of the Sacred Heart can be found here. And another one of the Sacred  Heart andSt. Margaret Mary can be found here. * Lacy has some nice ideas to celebrate the day over at Catholic Icing. * Catholic Cuisine, as always, has some wonderful, yummy ideas for eating well on this day. *  Today, here at the Davis house, we started the day with holy Mass, and will renew our  Consecration to the Sacred Heart at rosary time this evening.  Our statue of the Sacred Heart  (an unusual one, with a Child Jesus signifying His Heart) will take center stage on the dining  room table at dinner tonight (probably quiche with sweet red peppers cut and shaped into hearts on the  top).  Then, for dessert this evening, we'll have strawberry shortcake.  It's a nice cool and easy  dessert,  strawberries are traditional symbols for the heart, and who doesn't  love strawberry  shortcake? Happy Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to Everyone! See the Valentine He offers us? What do we give Him in return?

The Feast of St. Anthony, June 13th

 I love how Chambers portrays St. Anthony  here -- so real and likable, and refreshingly masculine!

I venture to guess that most Catholics would name St. Anthony somewhere in their top five Catholic Saints Hit Parade.  Not only is he the soul of gentle piety, wisdom, and self sacrifice, but he is one of the saints of the Church known for his miracles -- some which were of the highest order:  he was renowned for the gift of a golden tongue, having converted multitudes by his sermons; when men would not listen, he preached to the fish, who poked their heads out of the water to hear; he is recorded as having the ability to bilocate; and among his many other gifts, he was given the highest honor of holding the Christ Child in his arms...  


But I think it may be how St. Anthony touches our own daily lives with miracles that endears him most to those who know him.  Good St. Anthony  helps us find stuff. And, who, from the youngest to the oldest, the sharpest to the most distracted doesn't need help occasionally (or all the time, if you're me!) finding lost things? In a household like ours, with so people to lose things and so many things to lose, all the stories of St. Anthony "finds" are too numerous to list, but here are a couple that come to mind first:


My Mom, who is a convert, tells the story of lost wedding rings and her first foray into the Catholic world of the intercession of the saints.  St. Anthony came through, miraculously recovering Mom's rings for her -- and so we were brought up with St. Anthony a member of the household.


I lost my wedding rings one time, too, a few years ago.  I was pregnant at the time (Anna, I think)  and my fingers had swollen, so at bedtime, I took my beloved rings off and put them on my bedside table.  In the morning, after the distraction of getting everyone fed, and dressed, and ready for the day, I remembered my rings and went back to get them -- but they were nowhere to  be found.  I didnt panic until after I'd moved the bedside table away from the wall, stripped the sheets off the bed, and gone through the drawer in my table about three times, dumping it out, and inspecting every item.  I turned over the trashcan, too, and went through every scrap.  I cross-examined all the children.  I left no stone unturned. But still no ring.


 So I panicked.  But just for a minute.  I remembered my mother's good luck a lifetime ago finding her wedding rings.  For heaven's sake -- I hadn't asked St. Anthony yet!   All was not lost.  Straight away I knelt down with the Littles and we begged our dear saint from Padua to help find Mommy's rings.  Then, since Dan was at Boys' Camp with the four big boys, I got ahold of him (miraculously, I might add) and got Dan and the boys and their friends to pray, too.  


The next morning, I looked again: checked all over the floor, then looked in my bedside table -- and there, in the bottom, right in the front of the drawer, in a little "clearing" were my rings!  And I knew they had not been there before!  There was no chance that it had been one of the Littles returning them -- as that had crossed my mind.  They were innocent as lambs, and as dumbfounded as I was.  It was definitely St. Anthony's doing!  Our dear good friend in heaven.


Thank-you, dear St. Anthony.  Thank-you for reminding us that even those things that seem little in the grand scheme of God's universe are important in Heaven, too when they touch our hearts and souls.  It's so important for us to see how God's love and care for us extends through His saints to us in little every day miracles.  These little fireside dramas of faith and trust imprint images on the hearts of children, especially, that are like little love notes from heaven.  We never forget them. 

Prayer to St. Anthony

(by St. Bonaventure)

If miracles thou vain would see;
Lo, error, death, calamity.
The leprous stain, the demon flies,
From beds of pain the sick arise.
The hungry seas forgo their prey,
The prisoner's cruel chains give way;
While palsied limbs and chattels lost
Both young and old recovered boast.

And perils perish, plenty's hoard,
Is heaped on hunger's famished board;
Let those relate who know it well,
Let Padua of her patron tell.
The hungry seas forgo their prey,
The prisoner's cruel chains give way;
While palsied limbs and chattels lost
Both young and old recovered boast.

Glory be the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The hungry seas forgo their prey,
The prisoner's cruel chains give way;
While palsied limbs and chattels lost
Both young and old recovered boast.

V/. Pray for us, blessed Anthony,
R/. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us Pray
O God, let the commemoration of Blessed Anthony, Thy confessor, be a source of joy in Thy Church, that she may always be fortified with spiritual assistance, and may deserve to possess eternal joy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the Chaplet of St. Anthony

This chaplet is composed of 13 decades of 3 blue beads each. On the first bead of each decade is said 1 Our Father, on the second the Hail Mary, and on the 
third the Glory be. At the end, recite The Miraculous Responsory (above). 

Unfailing Prayer to St. Anthony

"Blessed be God in His angels and in His saints."

O Holy St. Anthony, gentlest of Saints, you love for God and Charity for His creatures, made you worthy, when on earth, to possess miraculous powers. Miracles waited on your word, which you were ever ready to speak for those in trouble or anxiety. Encouraged by this thought, I implore of you to obtain for me (state request here). The answer to my prayer may require a miracle, even so, you are the Saint of Miracles.

O gentle and loving St. Anthony, whose heart was ever full of human sympathy, whisper my petition into the eaars of the Sweet Infant Jesus, who loved to be folded in your arms; and the gratitude of my heart will ever be yours. Amen.

(Then say the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be)

Seeking a Lost Article

Dear St. Anthony, you are the patron of the poor and the helper of all who seek lost articles. Help me to find the object I have lost so that I will be able to make better use of the time that I will gain for God's greater honor and glory. Grant your gracious aid to all people who seek what they have lost---especially those who seek to regain God's grace. Amen.

Because I Love These Faces

And because we were without internet for two weeks...

It was either fold laundry in my downtime, play the zombie game, or learn to make a slide show.

Is there any question which one I'd do?



Look out, though.  Theresa, who learned to make these first and who very kindly and patiently tutored her backward mother in the fine art, is hot on my heels with a "challenge" slide show and Michelle says she wants to play, too.  So, ahem -- Let the games begin...

* This slide show is dedicated to Paul, whose face we miss! Hurry home, Paul!  Afghanistan doesn't need you more than we do!

Saturday Morning Cartoons

This one's for my sister,  Donna (for the fuzzy and toothy spiders).

And for William, who is mesmerized by these French "Miniscule" cartoons --

Which, maybe, has something to do with his having the attention span of a gnat.

 I don't know.

Anyway, grab a cup of coffee  ('cause this is somewhat lengthy) and enjoy!

What the New Nest Looks Like

(And, check it out!  I learned how to make slide shows!)


In order of appearance (roughly): 

the corn fields around our house
the front porch and front yard
(with glimpses of the grain towers and the big red dog house which are to the west and north)
the living room
the rec room
the kitchen
the dining room
the pantry
the laundry/craft room
Dan's office
the school room
sunset beyond the back 50 acres

The fifty acres is leased to a farmer, we just rent the house and have access to the old milk barns, tack barn, and grain silo.  The house is literally twice the size of the last rental at 4200 square feet.  Not shown are the work room behind the single car garage and four --yes, count 'em --four bathrooms and five bedrooms...  More on that later!

Just finished cleaning and moving the last bit of flotsam and jetsam out of the old house (a post coming on the moniker for that place, too, btw) -- so HURRAH!  It's official!  We. Are. Moved!!

And the internet is finally hooked up and running!  Woot!


* The above photos -- let us say they are "Befores." Hopefully we'll have some "Afters" ready to compare this summer!

Saturday Morning Cartoons