Saturday, November 24, 2007

Discipline in a new house

Mom: "Sean, you need to go have a time out in your room because you are not listening."

Sean: Crying... and wandering aimlessly about...looking all around. "Where is my room...can't find it Mama?"

Blessings of a Move

1. A wonderfully clean and organized new home.
2. A home with a fantastic floor plan and lots of space for the kiddos.
3. Friends who make Thanksgiving dinner for you.
4. Friends who watch your children so that immediately after finishing the turkey you can run out to go move boxes.
5. Friends who then drive your kids back to you and then spend 3 hours helping move the BIG furniture pieces.
6. Cleaning your old house one last time.
7. Kids who are so very adaptable. They fall asleep in a new room, in sleeping bags, amid the noise of unpacking, and they think it is fun.
8. New neighbhors on a quiet, quaint street. They still behave as I imagine neighbors did in the "good ole days".
9. New neighbors who bring you rubbermaid boxes, a dolly for moving, cut your grass, figure out why your fridge won't make ice, and help you unpack the moving truck...all inspite of being well.....quite old.
10. New neighbors who bring over a basket of apples, oranges, cokes, and gatorade.
11. A husband who moves his whole family and all their belongings in 1 day.
12. A husband who never complained and just kept on lugging "stuff", who tried to make me laugh, and who smiled at the kids when I couldn't.
13. A husband who puts away things, hangs shower curtains, and organizes the new fridge, when it was all too much for me.
14. Lastly, for the ability to see the blessings in the midst of chaos.

Saturday, November 17, 2007

A new spin on advent

I love this time of year. Thanksgiving dinner, the start of Advent. This year I had so many plans....a Jesse tree, an advent calendar, St. Nicholas day, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Lucy's feast day, a Los Posadas feast, Christmas, caroling, crafts, the Epiphany. In fact, I ordered 22 books from the library 5 weeks ago to do an advent unit study based on Tomie de Paola's wonderful books. I have crafting supplies and ideas for nearly every day of December. It was going to be such a wonderful, cuddly, time to grow in the faith with the kids. We were really going to prepare for the birth of the savior, and then came THE MOVE. I am a stressed, the kids are stressed, but we are toughing it out. I sat wondering how I can make the Jesse Tree ornaments, how long unpacking will take, what supplies/gifts I should buy now or wait on.....and then a friend gave me a thought to ponder... She observed that we will draw so close to the Holy Family as we travel this season, just like they did. As they searched for a place to stay and readied that stable as best they could...so will we. We get to LIVE advent, in a way. What a blessing friends are. They help keep us inspired and focused on what really matters. And so my challenge and prayer will be to keep my family focused on the Holy Family this season. Not in all the ways I had prepared, but in ways I had not. And if by God's grace will get settled quickly, maybe some of the activities will happen anyway. And if not, I have a list of 22 books and supplies for next year.

Westward Ho'

Or is it north...or northeast....either way the Kelty gang is packing the wagon and hitching up the horse. We will move AGAIN...the day after Thanksgiving. Why? Didn't we just move? Won't we move again in a mere 19 months? Well yes. But currently we reside in the House of Doom (thanks Dad, the name is great). And frankly, I can take it no longer. Being shocked when using kitchen appliances, having large tree branches randomly fall (on my car), and live rats in the toilet...yeah, we'll move, no worries. In four short days, we found a house, got a truck, bribed some friends, and we'll move to a new house next weekend. I'm really excited about having a nice fenced in yard, a garage, and a laundry room in the house. My hubby will have a bit farther to drive, but he is a trooper. Then again, maybe he is just scarred after killing the rat. Send prayers our way as we embark on yet another adventure. Happy Thanksgiving. As I begin to pack, I realize all I have to be thankful for....friends, family, 3 loaf pans, 5 9x13 pans......

Thursday, November 1, 2007

May the force be with you




Man of the House

My seven year old has become the man of the house on those long days when dad works really late. I discovered this as he walked out the door to play outside and said, "Call me if something really big happens, like if Sean gets hurt or you need something". I don't suppose I need to ever worry again. He's got it all under control.