The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Moms

Well, so much for Drawing Saturday... I'm afraid we caught a stomach bug here, right on top of the big, bad, ugly cold we just barely got over (Did I mention I had laryngitis for almost a week?)...

I let my guard down when the weather got nice and didn't take into account all the extra germs my big kids were going to bring home from school to introduce to the rest of the happily insulated homeschool crowd here at home.

("How d'you do, germs. Now, SCRAM!")

Anyway, seeing as my own poor stomach seems to be taking the slow, methodical approach to ousting this bug, I'm going to be lying low for a few days here, getting healthy, disinfecting every square inch I can get my Lysol into and working on everyone's immune systems.

I'll be back soon. Hope everyone out there is well and enjoying some sunshine.

Catching the Wind

The Wind

by Robert Louis Stevenson

I saw you toss the kites on high

And blow the birds about the sky;

And all around I heard you pass,

Like ladies' skirts across the grass

Oh wind, a blowing all day long,

Oh wind, that sings so loud a song!

I saw the different things you did,

But always you yourself you hid.

I felt you push, I heard you call,

I could not see yourself at all.

Oh wind, a blowing all day long!

Oh wind, that sings so loud a song!

O you that are so strong and cold,

O blower, are you young or old?

Are you a beast of field and tree,

Or just a stronger child than me?

O wind, a blowing all day long,

O wind, that sings so loud a song!

First Things First

Cathy, over at A Bit of the Blarney tagged me for this really quick and fun meme. This is about my speed first thing in the morning, so here goes:

The first thing I thought today: "Dang! The boys left and I forgot to give them Michelley's bathing suit!" (Sorry, Michelle!)

The first thing I ate today: Dry maple-flavored mini wheats.
The first thing I drank today: A cup of coffee.
The first thing I said today: "Hand me a diaper, Theresa..."
The first action I did today: Changed a diaper...
The first thing I read today: An e-mail from my good friend, Terrie. (Hi, Terrie!)
The first item of clothing I put on today: Lilac colored tee

The first person I spoke to today: Murmered goodbye to my husband, I think, when he left around 5:30 this morning...

The first chore I did today: Wiped up the mustard the boys got all over the counter making themselves bagged lunches this morning.

The first blog I visited today: Visited Cathy at A Bit of the Blarney!

Now, I tag:

(Hmmm, let me see...)

A Catholic Notebook

La Dolce Vita

Spreading Joy

Eileen on Him

Ten Kids and a Dog

Thoughts of a College Student

A birthday card for Laura

Sing a song of Birthdays

Full of fun and cheer

And may you keep on having them

For many a happy year!

(All the trouble I went to making this cake? Pshaw, it was nothing! It was the least I could do after the delicious jelly doughnut you went and got for me the other day!)

Little Girls and Tornados

It's tornado season here on the high prairies, and as much as I might want to shield my little ones from fear and worries about natural disasters, there is just no hiding some things from them. Especially when their older brother, who is just this side of a storm chaser, hovers around the doppler radar page on the computer, talking about "funnel clouds" and "right conditions" and such. It's enough to make the stoutest little heart jittery.

Yesterday was particularly bad, I think, because it was such a dark stormy day here. While I was out, a friend spotted a funnel cloud to the north of our town (actually quite a ways north, as it turns out). So, I drafted out the procedure for our big boys to follow in case of a tornado threat, just as a precaution. And, of course the little girls overheard this. I did take some time (as it turns out maybe not enough) to calm their fears, though. Cathy was concerned about what we should do if there was a tornado in the night, and how would we know so we could run down to the cellar. I told her that Daddy and I are right here, but that she should pray to her Guardian Angel to wake her if there was an emergency and she could trust that she would be alright. This seemed to satisfy her and her sisters, and they went on up to bed a little later with nothing more said. My husband, the big brothers and I didn't think any more about it

Until...

About 9:30 or so, when we thought they were already asleep ~

Cathy (7 ~ our communicator) comes downstairs and tells us that

Theresa (9 ~ our worrier) has been up fretting and sketching out worst-case-scenarios, and

Anna (5 ~ our doer) has been packing up all her underpants...

"She's been doing what?" we all say, almost in unison.

"She's been packing up all her panties, because Theresa said if we had a tornado

we'd probably pee our pants."

That's our Anna. She wanted to be prepared in case of an emergency.

And that is our three little girls in a nutshell.

*PS* Just as I pushed the "Publish" button on this post, I got a call from my second oldest son, Kevin, who is heading back to Omaha this morning, where he lives and works. He wanted to make sure I knew that, as he spoke, he was watching a tornado descend from greenish clouds outside of Brush, Colorado ~ in a field adjacent to the highway on which he was driving. Wasn't that sweet of him to fill me in on that?

Actually, I'm glad he did, so that now I can ask everyone reading if they wouldn't mind saying a quick prayer to St. Christopher (his patron) to protect my boy not only from: problems with the old Saab he's driving, distraction, poor roads, low flying geese, and on-coming traffic... But also from tornados!

(Thanks, y'all!)

Keeping Track of Keepin 'Em Busy

One thing that is absolutely essential in our home is a white board. They're fairly inexpensive, even the largest ones, highly visible, easy to use and update, and lots of fun.

We organize ours like so: Our Prayer list is on the left, our ever-important To Do list is in the middle, our Grocery List is on the top right, and on the bottom right, I've added a To Do list for our Littles...

See Shannon's place for

TONS of Summer ideas

for kids!

Since they don't really understand the concept of a calendar yet (my 5 and under crowd), and can't read yet, we've got a picture box of what they can expect, day by day. Today, for instance, it's cloudy, rainy, and chilly here, so I've drawn simple pictures of crayons, a coloring book, and play dough. If it's nice tomorrow, I may draw water play toys or sidewalk chalk. Our youngest isn't going to quite understand this yet, but it does start to train the little ones about planning and charts. And, theoretically, it will prevent a little of the begging to do things I'm not prepared to have them do on a given day.

Check List for Keeping Big Kids Busy
Make sure to plan get-togethers
Like:

1) Picnics in the park !

These taken at our annual Homeschooling Field Day last Sunday.

(A FUN time was had by all!)

2) Game Nights!

3) Work Parties!

("Parties?!" they say...)

Jon and Dominic trimming trees. (This limb fell in the middle of my lilacs!)

Paul and company working on the boiler room he and the boys are building for the central heat that we will be installing later this summer (Yes, you read that right. We currently have no central heat in this house!)

4) Time to Do... Nothin!

That's what being a kid in the summer is all about. Downtime is very important!

Our Lady of the Prairies

We just discovered through the Cukierski Apostolate another facet of Our Beautiful Gem, Our Lady of the Prairies. It seems like the ideal time to have learned of her under this title, so many of us are living through financial hard times right now. Following are two prayers in time of Financial Need.

Our Lady of the Prairies,

Mary Immaculate, Our Queen,Our Mother, obtain for us,
we humbly pray,the gifts of the Holy Ghost.
Graciously be near us in our present needs
and help us by thy intercession,
that Almighty God
may be pleased to grant us
the favour for which we pray.
Amen.

Our Lady of the Prairies,
Pray for us.

(Imprimatur July 16th, 1959, + F. J. Klein, Bishop of Saskatoon.)

Prayer to Our Lady of Perpetual Help

in Times of Financial Need

Realizing, dearest Mother of Perpetual Help, that thou art our perpetual help not only in spiritual but also in temporal necessities, we approach thee with submissive and humble hearts. Because we have a child-like and affectionate trust in thy power and goodness, beseeching thee to assist us in or present financial worry. Owing to untoward circumstances which have arisen in our lives, we are in dire want and pecuniary embarrassment, being unable to meet our honest debts.

We are not asking, dearest Mother of Perpetual Help, for wealth, if the possession of it is not in accordance with the holy will of God. We merely beg of thee that assistance which will enable us to satisfy our most pressing obligations.

We believe, Dear Mother of God, that thou art the Queen of heaven and earth, and as such, the instrument and special dispenser of thy divine Son’s graces; that thou hast acquired by virtue of thy wonderful dignity, a sweet jurisdiction over all creation. We believe that thou art not only rich and bountiful, but extremely kind and generous to all thy loving and devoted children. We plead with thee, therefore, dear Mother, to obtain for us the help we so urgently need in our present financial difficulty. We thank thee, dear Lady of Perpetual Help, and promise. to publish far and wide, the glories of thy miraculous picture.
Amen.
(Printed with Ecclesiastical Approval.)

H/T: Half the Kingdom

Smothered

Someone asked if all these children we have make me feel smothered sometimes, and I thought it was such a good question that I ought to answer it in a post instead of the combox.

The question was in reaction to the "self portrait" I drew yesterday, and when I looked back at it, I thought all those hands surrounding me actually did look a little like they were "coming at me." Which could be good or bad, right? It made me laugh, though. Are those hands reaching out for hugs, or are they trying to strangle me? Or do they all just want something?

Let me see. Do I feel smothered? The easy, trite answer would be to say something like "Smothered with love..." Awww.... (Gag,gag,gag) OK, there is a bit of reality in the smothered-with-love sentiment, but I wouldn't want you to gag on the powdered sugar. And it would be misleading, really.

Let's just say, yes, I do feel smothered sometimes. There's lots of love going around here, but I have to admit it. I do feel overwhelmed occasionally. It comes over me in waves. On good days I hit those waves on a surfboard, on bad days I go under. I haven't drowned yet, though. I thank my dear husband and my Faith for that.

The truth is, whether you have one child or ten, if you don't occasionally feel smothered, you're not doing it right. Motherhood is an all-encompassing job. Profession. Vocation. When you're responsible for the body, soul, and disposition of other people, and for the health of the family group they're in, too... Well, your whole body and soul have to go into it. It's that important. It is and must be a 24/7/365 job. It's hard work. Never-ending. Big picture. Nitty gritty. And yes, sometimes smothering. But, it's supposed to be.

We have to answer to God for the products we turn out on this job ~ and society will be none too appreciative, either, if we raise ax murderers or professional welfare recipients. There's pressure for you. But very little sympathy in this world. Especially for moms with four or more children, I'm here to tell you. But it's worth choking down the snide responses I want to spit out at people's rude comments. It's worth the struggle for time to myself and space with my husband. It's worth every moment of boredom, of exhaustion, of anxiety. It's worth feeling smothered sometimes to know I'm doing everything I possibly can for my children. Because it's my job, yes. But, more, because I love them.

They are my heart. God gave them to my husband and me out of His Goodness and Love for us. His hand is in every one of their hands, and my hands act for Him here on earth in raising them. A Sister friend of ours told me this yesterday in an e-mail:

There is a famous statue of the Sacred Heart that has no hands. A plaque below it says, "Give me your hands." In our rule, we are supposed to "be Mary's Hands, at work in today's world." It is true about losing the hands (or the grip) of the older ones one by one. But if you have had your hands there for them firm and loving, they will come back and have their hands there for you strong and supportive in your need.

So the hope is that they'll be there for us someday, too. They already are in a lot of ways. God willing, we won't need their complete care in our dotage, but it could very well happen. I hope we've raised them to find blessing in that kind of responsibility. I hope they won't mind feeling a little smothered.

And, in the meantime, I hope I can ride the waves gracefully. The trick is knowing how to swim out from under when necessary. Through prayer, through support networks, by developing better strategies, by utilizing my own personal coping techniques. And by giving and getting lots of really good, smothery hugs.

To kick off the week before Drawing Saturday

OK... So, Marie, over at MeMarie Lane drew a self portrait, deep in symbolism, and invited us to share ours, too. So, here's mine. That's me up there, with my glasses on. My nose looks a little weird, but then, my nose is a little weird. And I was doing most of this sketching with a two-year-old on my lap, and under my feet, and on my shoulders, and sticking pencils in my ears...

So that explains the hands, and explains away the poor drawing... The rest of it is pretty easy, I think. The drawing is cluttered, but the symbolism is pretty simple. I remember in college a poetry professor telling me I wasn't obtuse enough. I guess I'm still not obtuse enough. ( Is that a bad thing?)

You see how I can't quite get my hands on that jeep or that book there? I'm thinking maybe somewhere near retirement (in 16 or 18 years or so) I might actually get ahold of both of those dreams.

Notice how the big kid's hands are only represented by a finger or two, or are not even in evidence? Letting go of those growing up fingers one by one is one of the biggest challenges of parenthood!

But the Littles' hands are all right there? Bless 'em. Their hands were right there when I was trying to draw this. And, as frustrating as those little fingers are sometimes, I'm happy to hang onto them for a while.

Run over and see Marie's drawing and her other links, and maybe add one of your own!

Where's Paul-do

He's the third from the right there! See him? He's got a booboo on his elbow. And look at those cute ears! He stands out for us, even in this crowd!

National Drawing Day and Other Cool Art Stuff

We're always looking for new and interesting artists. Some of our favorite art, bar none ~ Even better than Thomas Kinkade ~ is the work of children's book authors. We love the work of:
Jan Brett,
Tasha Tudor
Sarah Davis
Doron BenAmi
Troy Howell
Ron Berg
Brynn Barnard

...And many others ~ but these are the ones I found jogging my memory online.

Remember Taro Gomi, the author/illustrator famous for the ground-breaking children's book Everybody Poops? He's published something new called Doodle All Year featuring 265 pages of doodling inspiration. A must-have, I'm thinking.

I don't care for the content in all her pictures, but you just gotta love the creative idea behind the New York Times Crossword Drawings by Emilyjo Cureton. She does one a day. View them cautiously, though.





And for something really interesting, go check out Yeondoo Jung's work... Children's drawings brought to life! Isn't that a creative twist? We thought this would be fun to try to do with some of our Littles' artwork.



Also, you may have noticed in my sidebar that June 7th ~ next Saturday ~ is National Drawing Day! I'm going to have my youngins doodle up some of their best work and post it that day. It would be wonderful to see other work, as well, if you want to join in the fun! Let me know if you'll be posting some and I'll link it here! Just let me know by Friday night. I'm so excited to see lots of drawing going on!~

Oops!

Correction: My sincere apologies. Yesterday's feastday was that of St. Mary Magadelene dePazzi! Not St. Mary Magdalene.


I know it just prolongs the agony, making excuses, but I have to explain my brain damage... Here's what happened: Paul left Wednesday night to fly off with all the other Marine Officer's candidates to Quantico, Virginia. His girlfriend, Nicole had come over to visit and see Paul off this week. I drove her back over the mountains yesterday to her home in Western Colorado, leaving early Thursday morning. Coming in late Thursday night, I glanced at the Saint of the Day, because I'd forgotten to look in the morning. I saw "Mary Magdalene" and missed "dePazzi"... I got excited about the feast of Mary Magdalene, remembering I had a recording of the kids' choir singing Maria Magdalena... And I figured, "I'd better hurry if I'm gonna get it in here before the feastday is over!" So, I slapped something together as quickly as I could... And, well, there it is.



My apologies! I'll be careful to look in better light and with less rush to go to print next time.

Thanks to Sr. Genevieve for bringing this to my attention!!

Raising Teenagers

It's one of the most debated and fretted-over problems of all time. Raising teenagers. I don't mean just keeping them out of jail and the maternity ward before marriage. I mean how do you raise hard-working, nice people, with good character and integrity? People you like to spend an afternoon or a life with. People you trust with your good name. And the keys to the family car.

We have some wonderful teenagers in our family, I'm pleased and proud to say. And they have some really wonderful friends. I know that sounds kind of like I'm tooting our horn, but I don't mean it that way at all. Much of the credit we give to Divine Intervention. We've had many blessings in our lives, including a wonderful extended family network, and good friends who share our Faith. But, my husband and I have really thought hard, worked hard and prayed hard on all of these children cum teenagers, too. It would be wrong to give the impression that childraising is just a matter of luck and isn't a lot of work. Believe me, we have not been without mishaps and mistakes with our growing teens. We're the first to admit that. But, in our floundering, God's made sure we've stumbled upon some good ground rules for raising up good people. Mostly we've learned that we've got to continue to pray for His mercy and grace on us all.

This whole subject is much on my mind right now, with all our big kids home, and I thought I'd write a post on it, but it struck me that it might be more telling to go straight to the guinea pigs source. I definitely have some of my own ideas on the subject, and I still may write my own post. But, I wanted to hear the kids' take on it. What impresses them the most? What do they think it takes to raise great teenagers?

I asked seven of them who happened to be hanging around here this afternoon. And here's what they wrote.


How to Raise Great Teenagers
(Written By Great Teenagers)

*In my opinion the most important factor of how to raise a great teenager is to raise them great before they're teenagers. To raise them with an equal mix of love and discipline and to not be too strict or give in to their every desire. Most importantly to instil a love of God and a desire to please Him.

*In my opinion, treating each person differently, according to their own needs and personality creates an atmosphere conducive for success - there's no one way to raise everyone.

*One thing that sticks out in my mind about how my parents raised my sister and I is they always had to draw the line somewhere. This went for everything like dating, curfew, going out to do things with friends, who our friends were etc etc. Growing up we hated that line because it was never where we wanted it, but now when I look back it was right where it needed to be.

*A huge factor in a teenager's conduct and personal developement of character is finding a way to keep God important in their life. There is nothing easier for a teenager to dismiss God as a childish thing, or at least nothing to be taken seriously; finding a way to make God seem, indeed the first priority, and an adult one, as well, is key to any teenager's being "great".

*Never assume that your parents know exactly what you mean by something. We must make ourselves very clear when saying something that could be misinterperated. I think one of the biggest problems between teenagers and their parents is not communicating what we mean effectivly.

*I think that one of the more important things to raising a teenager is to make them work. This builds their character and also keeps them occupied...

*I think an important thing to raising a teenager is breaking them of bad habits when they're younger. You should give them love and attention, but also show discipline and not bend to their will. You should also keep God an important factor in their lives.

(Woops. A smudge on the lens, doggonit! I'll replace this pic with a clear one as soon as they all show up again...)

Food for thought for me, I know. I wouldn't be surprised if they've been talking about it since they've been out tonight, and have come up with some other suggestions for us. I'll have to ask them. I've got to admit, I'd love to know what they'd say if they weren't writing it out for Mom. I know they firmly believe the points they made, but I bet there are more they might not feel as comfortable sharing on this public platform. I did put them rather on the spot. Thanks to our young ladies and gentlemen for being good sports and playing along. I may keep this list and give it back to them in a few years (twenty or twenty-five years, maybe...)

**For oodles and caboodles of other great tips on a world of topics, visit Shannon over at Rocks in My Drier.

A Most Worthwhile Read

This one has been circulating a while, I think, but I haven't seen it until this morning. It puts things in excellent perspective and comes to some simple, profound conclusions. Well worth the time to read, I thought.

"The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true, given the source, right? The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed, and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence, 2/3's of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ''What are we so unhappy about?'

"Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time, and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

"Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all, and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

"Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.

"This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.

"Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

"I know, I know. What about the President who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The President who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same President who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The President that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The Commander-In Chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?

"Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it...are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the 'Media' told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.

"Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig. So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans?

"Say what you want, but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds, it leads; and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by 'justifying' them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about 'how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way'...Insane!

"Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth, and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative. 'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, 'Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?' "

Jay Leno 2007
(Yeah, Jay Leno!)*
H/T: Nicole B.

* Addendum/Correction: Thanks to a careful and wisely skeptical reader, I need to correct the attribution for this article! You know the old saying: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is... As much as we might want a public figure like Jay Leno to be the author of such a piece, Snopes reports that Leno can only claim responsibility for the last line of this essay. Pity for him, but kudos to Craig R. Smith, who actually wrote it!

A Simple Woman Monday

This lovely idea originated at Peggy's place, The Simple Woman. Peggy's off on vacation this week, so she's not posting links, but I wanted to do a Monday morning Daybook, anyway. There is a really neat apron give-away going on over there, though, so you might want to go check that out!

Outside my Window... It's overcast and grey. A breeze is blowing the big cedar tree next to the swingset. I think the birds have slept in, as the usual breakfast meeting of blackbirds is not going on in the cottonwood just outside my east window. The boys have left tools on the old weatherbeaten bench in the north yard.

I am thinking... My husband was awfully industrious to get up so early. He's out picking up some provisions and a new bbq grill for the afternoon's Memorial Day festivities.

I am thankful for... Coffee brewing in the kitchen... All my children being under the roof this morning ~ most of the big kids still snoozing after coming in late from a movie last night...

From the kitchen... Jon is the only big-kid morning-bird today. He's in the kitchen right now, puttering around, making a torte for us to have this afternoon. (I'll post that recipe below) We're also having bbq chicken, brats, potato salad, beans, dippy vegges, and whatever else the extended family brings.

I am creating... A cat named Johnny C for a children's book. The author has hired me on to develop the character for her book, as well as for puppets and manipulatives to be used by and for children in cancer treatment. (Is that cool, or what?? Say a prayer for me that I can do a good job?)

I am going... To take a group of kids to see Narnia and Indiana Jones this week. (Went to see Indi with my husband on Saturday night and LOVED it! Passed all kid-friendly tests for us)

I am wearing... Blue jeans, brown sandals, a white tee under a tan tee decorated with swirly things and seed beads, under a tan hoodie. (Chilly here this morning)

I am reading... Actually nothing right now. Been too busy with the children home and working on cat pictures.

I am hoping... Everyone is on the waning side of this summer cold we have ~ and that nobody else gets it. Also, that my son, Paul, has a positive experience at Officer Training School ~ He leaves for there Wednesday night.

I am hearing... Jimmy Neutron in the living room, Jon stirring something in a metal bowl in the kitchen, a strange absence of birdsong outside.

Around the house... Well, every Monday morning, I'm going to have to say laundry is high on my list. I catch it all up on Friday, and the pile is up to my chin on Monday. But, the lovely thing is that I have all those boys' jeans and dirty socks to clean. Do I mind? Not a bit.

One of my favorite things... Jon's dessert creations.

Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... Those movies we're going to catch, A big gumbo dinner for Paul on Tuesday night, as a going-away treat, a big grocery shopping trip mid-week, sewing new curtains for my kitchen at the end of the week.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing for you... It's all about movement!

Jon's Napolean Torte

Pastry

1 lb butter, softened

4 cups flour

2 cups sour cream

Filling #1

3/4 cup granulated sugar

5 tbs flour

1/4 tsp salt

2 cups milk, scalded

4 egg yolks, beaten

1 tsp vanilla

Filling #2

2 (14 oz) cans sweetened condensed milk

6 egg yolks, beaten

2 tsp vanilla

1/2 lb butter, softened

Directions

1. To make pastry: Cut butter into flour until crumbly and blend in sour cream.

2. Form dough into 10 balls

3. Cover each with wax paper and refrigerate overnight.

4. Allow dough to stand at room temp for 15 minutes, then roll each ball into a wafer thin circles on a lightly floured board.

5. Prick all over and bake at 350 degrees F. for 7 to 10 minutes. Cool.

6. To make filling #1: Mix together sugar, flour and salt in top of double boiler.

7. Gradually add hot milk, stirring constantly.

8. Cook and stir until mixture thickens.

9. Pour a small amount over egg yolks, mix thorougly, and pour back into hot mixture.

10. Cook for 2 minutes. Cool, then add vanilla.

11. To make filling #2: Pour milk into top of double boiler and cook, stirring frequently, until thickened ~ about 30 minutes.

12. Add vanilla. Cook and stir for 10 minutes.

13. Chill.

14. Beat butter until fluffy, then slowly beat in chilled milk mixture.

15. To assemble Torte: Place one layer of pastry on a platter and spread with either filling.

16. Continue stacking, alternating fillings, until 1 layer of pastry remains.

17. Frost top and sides with remaining filling.

18. Crush remaining pastry layer and cover torte with crumbs.

19. Refrigerate for several hours.

Serves 30 normal people or about 10 teenagers.

Snot Here...

We're so glad to have all the children home, I just can't tell you. But, dang them, they brought a summer cold along with 'em! Not only do all the Littles have it, but I caught it too, doggone it! I don't even remember the last time I had a cold. I've been reduced to a poor sniffling wimp here, I admit it. I'm whining along with the rest of the kids. Bluck. We're miserable.

I've been wiping little noses all day long, and blowing mine copiously. We've gone through two boxes of Puffs and are making serious headway through another one. I just sent my husband out to get some more, in fact. (Gotta have my Puffs!)

I know everyone has experienced this. If it isn't colds, it's allergies.

Aren't you with me in asking: Where does all this snot come from?? Is there some kind of perpetual motion snot machine inside the head that kicks on? Is it like the Universe, created from nothing? I've been thinking about it all day. Really.

So, being a conscientious and curious homeschool-researcher kinda Mom and having the world at my fingertips here at the computer, I've taken it upon myself to hunt out the answer...

And here it is, for anyone interested:

* If this is too gross or N/A, feel free to skip to the bottom... I wouldn't blame you.

Blurtit says: Mucus is fluid secreted by the Goblet cells (Goblet cells??? This makes me giggle...) in the walls of mucus membranes in the body. The mucus contain lysozymes and immunoglobulin. In case of cold or flu, the brain send message to mucus membrane to produce mucus. The mucus is the response of our immune system. The mucus trap the virus or bacteria and does not allow them to enter in to lungs. (Gee, I guess that's nice of them, but all the mucous in there doesn't seem very good, either...)

Kidzworld says: Mucus membranes line the inside of your nose and sinuses and secrete snot to protect your body from invaders like germs, pollen and dust. The snot traps the tiny particles of junk that you breathe in so they don't make their way into your lungs and make you sick. If germs do sneak in, and you get sick, you'll probably get a runny nose cuz your body makes extra snot to wash away the germs. (Why does it take 7-10 days of showering to be sure we're rid of these alleged germs?)

Dr. Universe tells us: In the nose, mucous has two roles. Along with tiny hair-like projections called cilia (SILLY-UH), it traps dust, bacteria, and other small particles breathed in with air. Working together as a filtering team, they make the air easier to breathe, cleaner and more free of such harmful things as bacteria. (Easier, you say??) But mucous also lubricates and protects the nose. So it's pretty complicated stuff... (This is the point where they explain the intricacies of warrior-mucous)

So, in short, it's my brain telling my mucous membranes to flood the moat! Great. But I think the moat has overflowed and is flooding the castle here! For crying out loud, can't we just lower the chutes or something? (Yes, I know cold remedies are supposed to help this, but they've been next to ineffectual with this strain, for some reason. Sheesh!)

There is never any doubt that God's design is perfect, and so I don't question the benefit of this exercise, of course. But, I do think that the greatest good here doesn't come from any supposed washing out of germs. It's more likely a very handy little cross for Our Heavenly Father to occasionally bestow upon us just to keep us on our toes. So I better quit whining. Worse things could happen than our sore noses. I'm grateful, really.

Thank Heaven for Puffs. (Yes, I do indeed believe that such things are a heaven-sent consolation ...)

And, hey, ya know... There's another thing. (A silver lining to the tissue box.) Colds do keep the tissue companies in business. Little chance of layoffs at those factories, I'm thinking. Colds and flus in winter. Allergies in summer. They've got it all sewn up.

Colds are a good thing. I've almost convinced myself of it. ('Scuse me while I go find some more Puffs...)

*PS* While the Littles and I were home plowing through boxes of tissue, the rest of the family went to an impromptu church picnic. ( I stayed home from Mass with the Littles for everyone's better comfort and to distance the rest of the world from our "protective," infective mucous...)

I have just been informed that my husband and oldest five children seriously whupped managed to emerge victorious over EE (Everybody Else) at the church picnic today. Congratulations, you guys! You gotta know, we are not among the tallest of families out there (which is generally a big plus in this game!), but our athletes are a determined bunch! Better luck next time EE! (gg!)

Music for Sunday

Here's our children's full choir, the five boys (our three and two great friends), and five girls (including our Michelle (12). We think they're wonderful for a high school choir! (And, we're not at all biased. Surely not!)

And here (below), they're up in the choir loft (with I think one of the Sisters joining in), singing

O Magnum Mysterium:

Anna

"You know what I want to be when I grow up?

A police man

An Aunt

A Mother

Or the girl who makes the bottoms of shoes. You know. The plastic part."

A Scrabble Poem

If I only had an E

Oh, how happy I would b