Sebastian is such a huge part of my day, year, and life!  He is such a joy.  He loves soccer balls, and everything he sees looks like a ball to him.  “Ball!” is his first and favorite word.   This little athlete darts around all day long, chasing real and make-shift balls (soda cans, dolls,…

What a joy!  Annie, Leigh and Mary did such good job!  Our family was so wonderful to be there!

    My high point today was my sweet five year old Annie waving at me from the stage of the Nutcracker.  She is a “party girl” in the opening party scene.  She was all dressed up in a formal, velvet dress, and wore a wig of long, brown curls.  She was adorable.  She spotted…

      She and Sebastian have made good friends!  Lucky Sebastian!!       Ron said that yesterday at Mom’s Thanksgiving time, he peered around the corner of the living room, and caught Granny tickling and hugging Sebastian, making him laugh.  He said it was delightful to see her enjoying him so much.    …

“Be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God…

    Whenever I get unduly frustrated with the house or the kids’ behavior, I know it is time for new house rules!  Then, instead of being angry, I can smile and say, “You broke the house rule!  One dollar please!”     Today, we cleaned the house.  Oh, it was so frustrating.  The crayons, hairbands,…

    Today is the feast of Christ the King.  I know of few feast days more suited to Catholic mothers.  The Gospel reading today concerns Pilate questioning Jesus: “Are you the king of the Jews?”  Jesus responds later in their discourse: “My kingdom does not belong to this world”  (John 18:33 ff.).    …

     I spent hours talking with Ron after his evening class yesterday.  We talked about his teaching, his publications, his upcoming sabbatical.  First, I was astonished at how hard it is to teach graduate level courses for the first time: one night a week, for three hours, he teaches a text that, until recently,…

“You have single-handedly restored my faith in the liberal arts.  After years of secular education in which learning was aimed at nothing at all other than some specialized bit of knowledge that seemed to have no real point, I have come to believe that knowledge is real and important and grounded in the Christian faith….

    It has been such delight having a visit with my sister Melia.  Living in Greece, then in England, and now in LA–she is now on the same continent as we are!  What a gorgeous human being, inside and out.  What character, what virtue, what joy.