Blessed Triduum

Lent is over, but let no rejoicing come from our lips quite yet. Today, Holy Thursday, we celebrate that Our Lord gives Himself to us in perfect Love in the Eucharist. Tomorrow we commemorate His Passion and Death, His ultimate act of Unconditional Love. Saturday we dwell on the emptiness of a world without Christ's Presence. All in great anticipation of His Triumph!

Remember that Friday is the best day of fasting of the year. For this nursing mama that will mean small simple meals and no snacks, no comforts, and as much silence from 12 noon to 3pm as possible.

Easter Sunday is the greatest FEAST, the Feast of Feasts! So live it up, and I'll see you back here next week for more updates on the kids.

Holy Week

Has anyone else noticed that Palm Sunday is MUCH LONGER when you have a toddler? People keep telling me that it's only a few extra minutes, but I know that they are lying. I'm certain that Mass on Sunday was about 3 hours long, and that does not leave me with much hope for Saturday night. But more about that later.

Passion Sunday is actually, despite the presence of those loud kids in the front row (oh wait, those were mine) a day of some of my favorite Readings. The power of the Paul's words that "Every knee shall bow, in the heavens, on the earth, and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:6-11) gives me goosebumps. The reading of the Passion, although traditionally not best enjoyed while nursing on a folding chair in the ladies' room, was easier to hear this year. Too often I look around me at the people who are reading the account like any other words on a page, as I am one of them. This year, stuck in said bathroom, there were only the voices through the speakers recounting this incredible story just to me. In many ways I heard it for the first time in a long time this year, and the power was not lost on me. Back in the pew, however, I was too busy keeping the palms out of the lady's face behind us to remember anything that Father said in his homily. Whose idea was it anyways to give toddlers long branches in church?!?

Yesterday evening we ventured to St. Mary's Cathedral in Baltimore for the Chrism Mass, which was beautiful!!! I am so deeply touched watching the procession of the priests from all over our diocese as they prepare to renew their priestly vows. This must be a highlight of their year, to celebrate their priesthood, the beauty of their vocation, as a group of brother priests. As they processed, (while comforting the over-tired, sick Anastasia) I couldn't help but think of our Blessed Mother watching her men come to her Son's table together. They radiate like a couple approaching the alter to renew their wedding vows, and we should be thankful daily for the gift they are to our Church!

Interestingly, I read after a long day of intense cleaning yesterday that traditionally Holy Week was a time of serious cleaning and de-cluttering to prepare your heart and your home for the greatest celebration of our year! So I am continuing that a little more today, happy to have a spiritual reason behind the physical labor and already seeing the fruits! I have mixed feelings about how to celebrate the Triduum this year, as it will be the first in many that we have not been at FUS for their fantastic celebration. Do we try the Vigil with Bella? (She did great last year.) We really want our kids to grow up with a love of the Liturgy, and they will never learn if we don't start. Just pray for us. :)

Just to note, by the way, that the girls really did fantastic at Palm Sunday and Chrism Masses, despite my cynical comments. Bella played happily and was very cooperative; Bella is just not the quietest child there is, that's all. I was very happy to have her with me, especially when 1) Patrick was there with me, and 2) the organ music was so loud you couldn't hear her above it very well.

Quick Takes 8

Hello Friday! Praise God, we made it through another week of sick little girls. Well, Bella is better with just lingering rhinorrhea. Poor little Anastasia has earned the nickname of Whining Puppy given her congested little squeaking. We are going to start growing tropical plants in Bella's room with this constant use of the humidifier; it's seriously a rain forest in there.

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R.I.P., Mr. Laptop. My computer officially died - completely, no resurrection possible. My Darling Husband stayed up one night until midnight fiddling with it, but for naught. For the past several weeks, maybe a few months, I have complaining about the darn thing, but of course now I miss it. Currently I am relegated to using an even older laptop to save myself the peril of facing Hubby's office (not-so-affectionately called "The Dungeon" - get the picture?) I am very grateful, of course. Never mind the fact that it it slower than molasses in winter. Nope, I am one grateful person, who will be even happier when we save up to buy a new one. :)

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Anastasia started reaching for things this week! I love the developmental changes in infants, as they are so fast and exciting! The good news is that she does not seem interested in wiggling and moving all that much, and is instead content to lie still smiling, babbling, and watching the world around her. Soon enough she will face the fact that movement may be necessary for survival, but until then I'm thrilled.

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Is anyone else sick and tired of the weather we're having in schizophrenic MD? Yesterday was supposed to be sunny and warm according to the infallable (haha!) meteorologists, and instead was damp and nasty with the shortest break in the clouds during nap time. Today started out with a beautiful thunderstorm, and now (nap time again!) is sunny and WARM!

Patrick is quick to remind me that this is par for the course in lovely Maryland, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.

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Bath Time Lessons: A child needs only a cup and spoon to be thoroughly entertained for 35 minutes. Today Bella asked for a spoon while she was in the bath, which was a first. I must have asked the poor child to repeat herself 5 times before I understood that she really was requesting a spoon out of the blue like that. No, we don't usually have utensils in the bath, but whatever. She "mixed" and "stirred" (her words) and ate the bubbles. Now she's been washed inside and out. Bath time is a pretty happy time in our house, and boy did we all need that this morning. Anastasia needed the humidity, Bella needed the soap, and Mama needed a break in the tears. An activity that solves all 3 problems is pure genius!

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I am still reading Fire Within by Fr. Thomas Dubay. I know, I started it months ago, but this is serious reading that I need to make more time for. As it is I get to read a little bit about once a week, usually for about an hour, sometimes two. It's slow progress, but it's absolutely worth it. This is the second book I've read by Fr. Dubay (Deep Conversion, Deep Prayer being the first) and I read it thinking he's speaking directly to my soul. Oh how I desire the closeness with Our Lord as described by the saints! Oh how far I have to go!

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Actually, that's all I can think about right now. I am going to implement an idea from a friend and write thoughts on sticky-notes throughout the week as to about what I would like to blog so that by Friday I will remember what was interesting but not deserving of a whole post. That is, after all, what these quick takes are for, right?

Home Security System

Move over, fancy-schmancy home security device companies, I have a low-cost solution.

First, leave your door unlocked. It is sure to befuddle the would-be burglar. He will not know that it is merely because you keep forgetting your keys, and instead will raise suspicions. Next, unleash your toddler in the living room for a few hours before leaving the house. When the would-be burglar opens the door he will be certain the house has already been hit, given the state of extreme disarray. This part could potentially backfire should he decide to report you to the health department and they condemn your house presuming it has been abandoned. Lastly, even if the intruder actually intrudes, he is sure to step on a building block or ball, sending him flying in the air to land with a thud, hitting his head on a Little People animal and cursing loudly enough to alert the neighbors better than any alarm system would.

Of course, the other potential downside to this set-up is the more realistic possibility that the "intruder" in question is actually Mama.

If someone wanted to make a lot of money they could write a book called "Waking up and Staying Awake on Monday Morning." Of course, it would have to be humorous, and even more importantly very simply written so that the half-witted, sleep-deprived zombie of a mom walking around our house could read it. In fact, if it were written in 4- part rhyme with bright illustrations of dancing rhinos then I'm sure I could understand it.

Oh let's see, there was Friday night where nobody slept because Bella came down with a cold. After a busy day Saturday of Patrick working on the deck and then a party at my friends' house, Bella's little cold turned into an all-out asthma upper-respiratory nightmare. Nobody slept Saturday night, either. Sunday Patrick worked on the deck all day with Very Good Friend Andrew and Very Good Brother Scott, and Very Nice Neighbor Dave. Anyone who volunteers to help work outside building deserves a title in all capitals. The highlight from my afternoon was getting ready to come home and losing Bella's bottle and my car keys with both girls crying from exhaustion.

As of this morning Bella has had several nebulizer treatments, lots of fights over nose-blowing, and watched 3 TV shows in bed with Mama. Anastasia has done nothing but smile and babble while I'm near her, and scream her head off when I'm out of sight. I'm off to make another pot of coffee, and if the girls actually stay asleep for a few more minutes I might read. But then again, that would require mental power, so I think I'll stick to letting those precious brain cells slip into the abyss of the internet.