With Advent just around the corner (less than a week away!), I thought this week I would share a few Advent traditions that we do at our house. It is important to me that during this time we make sure our children understand the true reasons we are preparing to celebrate Christmas. In a world where commercialism reigns, these little family traditions can help us … Continue reading An Advent Tradition: The Jesse Tree
Dear Mr. President, I know you are a busy man and that my problems may seem insignificant to you. I know you are worried about race relations, climate change, the Pope’s visit to our great country, international affairs, our economy, tensions with the Middle East, and a myriad of other issues. I can’t imagine the stress you are constantly under. But still, I beg you … Continue reading Dear Mr. President: An Open Letter From a Concerned Police Officer’s Wife
I was sitting in my room, folding clothes, when Caroline came and asked me a question. “Mama,” she started, “is Daddy going to die?” Her questioned startled me. “I don’t think so. Why do you ask that?” I responded. She looked at me and said quietly, “Because he’s a policeman and bad guys want to kill him.” I didn’t know what to say. We have … Continue reading The Other Side of the Badge
After Mass today we stopped at the cemetery to see William. Today is his birthday. We gathered around his grave and one of the kids asked if we could sing Happy Birthday. And so, we sang. Afterward, we prayed as a family. We talked abut how old William would be had he lived and a couple of the little ones asked me if I thought … Continue reading Singing Happy Birthday to Heaven
The kids were excited last night to put out their shoes for St. Nicholas to come and fill with goodies. It is a tradition they look forward to each and every year. Our kids know that St. Nicholas is Santa and Santa is St. Nicholas. His feast day is December 6th and on that day he comes to remind them the reason we are preparing for … Continue reading St. Nicholas’s Surprise
It’s hard to believe that Chris, our elf, has been a part of our family since 2006. I saw him sitting in a little boutique in Marietta before he ever sat on shelf in Target. Not many had heard of him at that point, in fact, no one we knew had ever heard of him. I looked him over and worried about the cost. He was … Continue reading Just Elfing Around
Today in the Catholic faith we begin the season of Advent. Advent is the prayerful season in which we prepare for the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Christmas morning. The word actually means “coming” or “arrival”. It starts four Sundays before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. It is a wonderful time to come together to learn about our Catholic faith, … Continue reading The Jesse Tree- An Advent Tradition
Last night I decided to read a new book to the kids before they went to bed. It was entitled How Does Sleep Come? by Jeanne C. Blackmore. I gathered the kids in the living room and they spread themselves out all around. Some were lying on the couch, others were perched right in front of me, eager to see the pictures, and still others … Continue reading How Does Sleep Come?
Jake is a man of few words but he is bundle of energy and a barrel of laughs! He keeps us entertained and frustrated all at the same time. He is adorable, sweet, naughty, and loving. Given his rocky start and the 16 months of crying that followed his birth, I have been completely taken off-guard by this little man. His personality is so cute … Continue reading Jake, a Man of Few Words
Originally written on July 24, 2007 this post still makes me teary-eyed. I feel so blessed to get the honor to raise these children. Any mother who says her children are perfect is not telling the truth. All kids are naughty at times, they can be rude or mean, they can be loud and obnoxious and just plain irritating. We do have days like that … Continue reading Sometimes They Bring Me to Tears
tales from the side of the tub 