Going Public. Again.

I have a secret.  A secret blog, that is.  And it's not so secret after all... it's a public blog.  I just haven't exposed it here.  Because it's a Catholic blog, and it's personal, and I am incredibly leery about sharing it.  But apparently it's been found, I allowed it to be seen on my profile, and now you have been tracked:).  This blog began as my way to remember our story, and now it is my deepest hope that it will be used to make a bridge between varying Christian communities.  I long for Unity, and although I understand that disagreements will arise, it is my prayer that they are discussed with accuracy, not with misunderstandings and unfounded misconceptions.  I hope to dispel some misconceptions with my thoughts. 

Even now, as I am about to post a link, I am nervous.  It's a look into my soul, my journey, and my beliefs.  You can get pretty beat up in today's world for sharing any one of those things.  It's much like walking into a dinner party and asking each guest their political leanings.  We American's frown upon such things, because they are by very nature, personal.  And, even Christians, in a large part, can fall into the belief that my thoughts are mine, and yours are yours, and arguments among believers should be avoided at all cost.  Let the things of highest importance be agreed upon, and the lesser ideas, be left at the door. 

I believe to some extent in that thinking.  Yet I also believe that some things that many might consider "lesser," are in reality the most important issues in life.  And if the Lord has for some reason given me this gift of his Church, I should not be terrified to share it.  I feel the joy of Phillip when he exclaimed, "We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth!"  I want to share how very present he allows himself to become, and to be known, within the Church.  I want to share about his body in the Eucharist, his family of the saints, and the Fathers vast love, for me, and for the world.  I want to explain how the lesser ideas became important, because they illuminated Jesus in a way I had never known him before.

So I say this, if you desire; come, taste, and see that the Lord is Good within his Church.  And read the blog.  If you are looking for pictures, stay here.  They will still be updated.  But if you are looking for a testimony of his Goodness... then follow me, Here:
www.thefullnessblog.com
Start at the beginning, it's a very good place, to start.

Picture Review

There has been a lot going on here in the last couple of months that I have forgotten to write about.  I've redone a few rooms, scraped a large ceiling, spent some time with my favorite electrical twins: the table and the chop saw, Callie started first grade, and became a master soccer star, the boys started preschool, Harry feels like he won the lottery every Mon, Wed, and Friday when he gets every toy to himself; I discovered paying for blond highlights is completely worth every penny, we took a last minute Chicago trip with my parents,  and now we are high into birthday season.  Really, I'm impressed by that paragraph. 
Here are some photo highlights:

Chicago

The Shedd

Architecture River Cruise

The Bean

Sacrificial Love

 

First day of First Grade

First day of the last year of Preschool

Discussing their plan of attack for the class.  Stick together and wear similar clothes.  Its easy to remember, and to launder.

 

Harry was first with a low key neighborhood with bonus Grandparents party.  He screamed until he realized the icing on the cupcake was also, pure sugar, his current core food group, and he went wild for play trucks, Thomas Trains, and some much needed bath toys.  Apparently, it's considered gross to still use your sisters bath toys from when she was a baby; seven years ago.  The toys must have been cool, because for a few good weeks, his older siblings were reverting to toddler brains and fighting the smallest one in the bunch for a chance to push Thomas down the track.   Ahh sibling love. 

You didn't tell me this was SUGAR!

This IS my life, People.  One picture can explain so, so much

Ever exciting Grandma and Grandpa

 

Three families that stick together no matter what. 

Faithful Neighbors: Fran and Ed

The, "I will fight you for this" face

The "Dude, Who took my Toy?" look

We went all out for the boys, who were next.  It was their first official party where we handed out invitations to the entire preschool class, rented a bounce house, and had a Grandpa Bob turned Incredible Hulk as a pie throwing victim.  I even allowed my Mom to bring her darts for a game.  Safety was not, actually first, at this party!

Harry just spotted sugar. 

Our Bat Cave.  Complete with optional capes, masks, and glow sticks.  To fight bad guys; obviously

I require this picture Every Year.  I do not care how big and ridiculous this will be.  It is my crowning achievement.

Beautiful Grandma and Callie... but check Jack in the back

The depth of his love for these boys...

Due to the boys incredible amounts of toys and fun that were had last Saturday, I now find myself having to continually promise Callie that a really cool party for her will follow.  We have booked Sky Zone, as I have promised Kevin I will not make the party about me and my love for trampolines.  We are currently on a secret mission to find out the selected friend's parents first and last names so that invitations can be sent to their home addresses.  It's against school policy to hand out at school.. so this operation is going to be long, and broad.  And I laugh when I keep having to remind Callie that a "guess" at the spelling of the last name in no way helps me in my whitepages.com search.  

I will update later from Callie's party.. if I can resist the trampolines long enough to act like an adult.  Good thing responsible Kevin will also be helping.  A room full of trampolines is equal to walking into Banana Republic with a boat load of reward points and a 50% off sale.  What normal person could resist that, anyway? 

So that has been our review in pictures.  This house is full of exciting and crazy all day, every day.  But the crazy is my normal, and my happy, and I am learning to be grateful for it everyday.