In Christ - Putting the Life Back Into Life

“Apart from Christ we can do nothing of lasting value—in our lives, marriages or our children’s live.  With Christ everything we do has lasting value because of his grace, his divine life at work in and through us. When his Word [resides] in us, we also receive life because his words are spirit and life.” –Kimberly Hahn, Graced and Gifted.  This was the “aha” moment for me this week at my Catholic Moms Group. 


When I was a senior in high school I went to visit a convent for their “Come and See” week long retreat.  I had said, no, to this retreat several times and had several very legitimate excuses.  But, a nice young priest went out of his way to make it possible for me to go, and I realized that you can’t say, no, when God calls you. 


My time at the Daughters of Saint Paul was very eye-opening.  One of the moments I was most struck happened in passing.  We were to spend the morning with some of the nuns learning what they do at their jobs.  They are the media nuns and they make all sorts of Christian media, Christian music, books and movies.  I spent the morning helping one nun fix the color for the front cover of a magazine.  As we were taking a tour of their printing facility, the nun turned to us and said almost in passing, “We do it all for Jesus!”  This shocked me.  What was the deficiency in my upbringing that I had NEVER heard anyone say that before?  Of course! How could I be so stupid? Of course it’s all for Christ.  Everything from the littlest thing to the greatest, these nuns did keeping in mind that their work was for Christ.  It only had value because it was for the sake of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.


At the end of the retreat, I thanked them and told them I was going to go to college and get an education before I make up my mind about my vocation.  On a personal level, I told one nun that I felt a strong call to be a mother (I was young. I should have said wife and mother, because you cannot have one without the other).  But, what they had shown me had brought me to a place of peace in which I felt that I could be complete if I chose to receive Holy Orders.  After much prayer and contemplation (I cannot express fully what a deep, spiritual journey this “prayer and contemplation” was, but it was like going from being 13 yrs. old to 30. It was a huge maturation), God brought Andrew and I together…in Christ…and the rest is history.  Praise be to God!

This is a picture of Andrew and I shortly after we started courting. 

We're pretty young and cute aren't we? 

That was seven years ago. 

Seven Notes - From the Mouths of Babes and Other Stories

1. Filet de Poisson a la Bretonne - I have not done a post on Mastering the Art of French Cooking in a while. I have continued to try recipes. Although, not as frequently. There are just none I felt I needed to share, lately. However, last night I made the above recipe. This involved poached fish, julienne carrots, celery, onion, leeks, and sliced mushrooms, with a creamy white wine sauce. This recipe is as lovely as the rest. The sauce was the best part. In a guilty moment, when I dropped the skillet into the sink for washing, I found myself licking the last little dredges of sauce from the pan and spoon—the shameful things fine food will cause you to do.

There are a host of poached fish and sauce recipes in this cook book and I have to say they are among my favorite recipes. I have always used the same white wine to poach and make my white wine sauces each time, which has given all the dishes the same taste. I can imagine that if I were to use a different wine it would have a different flavor.

Next up Chocolate Mousse.

2. Weaning - We have mostly weaned Kristiana. She did not make a big deal of it. She pretty much did not care as long as she was fed. However, there are moments here and there that she wants to nurse for comfort, so I oblige. She was nursing once a day and is tapering into once every other day. Of course, I miss it, so I am happy to have these little moments with her. But, between being bitten and the open all night wet bar, I am sure that it was time to slow the nursing.

These days I am getting significant amounts of sleep and I am waking up heavy and groggy. It’s a strange sensation.

3. Good Sleepers - Since weaning it has become very easy to put Kristiana to bed in a dark room with a bottle and she goes to sleep after she finishes the bottle. No fuss, no mess. Of course it’s going to be a nightmare to break her of the nighttime bottle habit. But, that is for another day.

4. Not Sasha! - Alexander has informed us that he is, “not Buddy, not Sasha, not Alexander. I am Alex.” It saddens my husband and I, because we love pet names for our kids. We are having trouble adjusting. Alex tells us over and over until we use “his” proper name, “Dad, not buddy…I am not buddy…not buddy, Dad.”

“Okay, okay, you are Alex.” Or “Who are you then?”

“I am Alex.”

I don’t know what suddenly got into him about being called by, “Alex.” I have a feeling it has something to do with preschool.

5. The Twilight Zone - Speaking of things Alex has told me lately. He has been telling me the strangest things lately. I do not know if it is because he is using his imagination, or if he just doesn’t remember correctly, or does not know how to express what he means. I have been trying to get to the bottom of it all by asking more questions, but with little kids you have to ask your questions wisely otherwise you can lead them into making up stuff, or making it up yourself and they will agree with you.

For instance, Alex told me about a dream. At least I think it had to be a dream. It was first thing in the morning and he said. “I go far away. I go out the door and far away. By myself.”

“Where did you go?”

“Ride pony.”

“Was this a dream?” (See how this is leading him.) He thinks a moment. Then nods his head yes. I asked him to tell daddy about the dream. So he starts telling my husband and when we get to the pony part, my husband interjects,

“Oh you rode a pony like at the fair.” This leads Alex to start telling us about the fair, which we do not think was a part of the dream, but what he was remembering about the fair.

Maybe I should start looking at which direction his eyes are looking and if he’s looking left I will know he is making it up and if he looks right I will know he’s just thinking about it…I’ll let you know if that helps.

5. Time to Celebrate  - It’s the Clayton family birthday month! Happy Birthday, Brian, Andrew, Alex, Renee and Kristiana’s not in November, but close. I think we should shoot to have all our kids in November! It’s a great month to be born.

6. A Little Something in My Stocking - For my birthday and Christmas, I am getting a very big present. I will share what it is when it arrives. I am excited! It’s all I can think about. I feel selfish for it, but my husband assured me I deserve it. I like my birthday’s proximity to Christmas and Thanksgiving. It’s in between two fabulous holidays. Further, if I want a big gift—which if I get a gift, I want it to be big and special or nothing at all—I can say it’s for birthday AND Christmas, and that justifies the expenditure.

7. Miracle - I read a blog about a miracle today and it made me tingle. When I had this reaction, my thought was that it touched me so, because it must be true. Check it out Here.

For All The Saints - Pray for Us!

This is the St. Patrick costume I made for Alexander, and even though  he was really excited about it he still would not wear it.

He has been very particular about his clothes lately.

He will not even wear long pants or a jacket when its cold.

 Andrew wore the costume so my feelings wouldn't be hurt.

 

This is Saint Therese the Little Flower (literally the little flower)

 

Saint Juan Diego and Saint Francis

Saint Patrick - Part II

Don't Remember the Saint

Saint George

 Saint Nicholas having a swing
I like the little halo on the Saint pushing the swing.

There were others, but I missed them.

Not So Green Thumb Tomato

It seemed the more I cared for my tomato plants the worse they did. So I decided to leave them alone. One plant survived the long dry summer and then enjoyed the spoils of a soggy autumn.  Last weekend the sole surviving plant sprouted this tomato. I am sure it will not be tasty and will never ripen before it gets too cold, but it made me happy nonetheless.

SIGNS, Trying to Put the Puzzle Together

“If today you hear His voice, harden not your heart.”

I woke up to the melody of this verse this morning, and it has been on replay in my head since. I cannot tell you why. After some aimless meandering around the house, some banging of pots and baby cuddling, I hunkered down for prayer and scripture reading. It is not like me to do other things before I pray, yet it seemed as though I was avoiding it. Since the aforementioned verse awakened me earlier than usual, I had extra time this morning. So I decided I would read today’s scripture with my prayers.

This was today’s verse:

“He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters.’

‘When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.” (Luke 11:23-25).

This verse has been a theme for me lately. Between this and our priest last Sunday gave a homily saying, “It doesn't say blessed are those are trying to be pure of heart, blessed are those who want to be pure of heart! It says, blessed of those who are pure of heart for they shall enter the kingdom of God.” The only conclusion I can come to is that “Someone” is screaming at the top of “One’s” lungs for me to get to confession and make a “clean home.”

This whole morning has been in slow motion for me. Alexander did not want to go to preschool this morning. He wanted to build train tracks. So I asked Andrew, who would be working at home this morning, if Alex could stay an extra half hour. I left and took the baby to daycare. As I was coming out of the daycare Alexander and Andrew were entering the school. He played for ten minutes and then decided it was time to go. Okay son, if ten minutes of private playtime with Dad is all you needed, we are happy to oblige.

On the way to work, I heard on the car radio that a military transport, C-130, collided with a coast guard helicopter over the Atlantic last night. (Note: I totally got this one wrong. It was off the coast of California.) I freaked out, because that is the plane my sister flies and she is on her way back from Iraq. So I frantically called my parents asking if they had heard from her. Yes, they had. Her plane is broken down in England. Thankfully it was not my sister’s plane, but it was someone’s family, so I prayed for their souls. It so easy to be unsympathetic toward other’s tragedies until they hit home. Love ya’, Sis. Come home safe.

Everything has been out of order today. It seems as though things are out of order to call these signs to my attention. But, I am still not seeing the big picture.

Encouraging Reconciliation and Prayers for the Troops

"In preparing to receive Christ, our Paschal Lamb, Saint Paul commands, 'Let us, therefore, celebrate the festival, not with old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with unleavened bread of sincerity and truth' (1 Corinthians 5:8). How much more important is it that we eradicate sin from our lives than to eliminate leaven from our homes?" --Graced and Gifted, Kimberly Hahn

This week at my Mom's Group Bible Study, we mostly discussed how to get organized and decluttered. But the sacramental section of this study was about making frequent confession a habit for the whole family. The homemaker should not only make the home clean, but help to make the souls within the home clean. The Church asks us to confess at least once a year, but she points out that if you likened confession to the washing of one's body, if you only washed once a year, there would be definite consequences to the health of the body.

 This passage also made me think about evils that enter our home in the form of main stream culture i.e., programs on television, and cultural practices such as Halloween. I have to make a real effort to make our home a spiritually safe place. A place where we can learn to grow in the Lord, support and foster each others faith and gain fortitude and courage against evil. It is not that we will not suffer attacks. But, our home should be like a fortress armed with all the weapons to do battle. Does that sound crazy? Maybe, with our modern sensibilities I should say it like this: You don't go to play tennis without sneakers, tennis balls and a tennis racket. Likewise, you cannot set out to achieve salvation without the tools and training to do so. You cannot achieve salvation with bad leaven. 

 Prayers for the Troops

My sister serves in the Air Force. She wrote an email to our family saying that she will be deployed a little longer and the morale for her troop is low. She asks for our prayers. I found the following prayer on a site for U.S. Catholic Bishops. Please pray this prayer for them.

 Lord God, Almighty Father,
creator of mankind and author of peace,
as we are ever mindful of the cost paid for the liberty we possess,
we ask you to bless the members of our armed forces.
Give them courage, hope and strength.
May they ever experience your firm support, gentle love and compassionate healing.
Be their power and protector, leading them from darkness to light.
To you be all glory, honor and praise, now and forever.
[and bring them home safely. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.] Amen.

Dino-Dream - Alexander

This morning when we woke up Alexander he started mumbling about dinosaurs.  My husband couldn’t make sense of it, so we all went to eat breakfast.  After Alexander had finished his breakfast he said, “A dinosaur was chasing me.  A dinosaur [tried] to eat Alex...Scared, Alex.”  (Yes, he speaks in third person half the time.)  I asked him if he dreamed this.  In a timid, frightened little voice he replied, “Yes.” 

Last night before he went to bed I read him a story called, Thomasaurus Rex.  In the story Thomas the Tank Engine had to help bring a dinosaur fossil to a museum show.  It was not a scary story.  Maybe stories with dinosaurs are not the right thing to read right before bed for now.

 

"The Only Path to Authentic Peace" - Angelicans Join Hands with Romans

http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=34677

"This morning the Vatican offered a lifeline into the Ark of Peter for Anglican Christians who wish to avail themselves of the invitation. Expectations had been that, in response to the formal petition of the “Traditional Anglican Communion” for a vehicle for corporate entry into full communion, the Holy See would offer a juridic structure under Canon Law similar to the “personal prelature” which is the global organizing vehicle for the ecclesial movement Opus Dei. In essence it provides a “floating” global Diocese wherein the prelature has its own Bishops and its own priests while welcomed alongside of the existing Dioceses of the Catholic Church.


...In the midst of the darkness of the hour the Catholic Church has done what she has done for over two millennia, shine the light of the Truth to offer the way to salvation for all the Nations. The Church is not some optional organizational “extra” we fashioned, she is the Body of Christ, the new world, the seed of the Kingdom to come, the place where all men and women can find their fulfillment and the only path to authentic peace. The prayer of the Son of God “May They Be One” (John 17) still echoes and heaven itself is responding. Today’s historic news is the sign of the coming plan of that loving God who “…so loved the world that He sent His Only Son”. (John 3:16)"
 
By Deacon Keith Fournier

When Good Scholars Burn Out and Other Oddities

How do you know when you are burned out on being a graduate student? 

You finish off a day of studying and work with a ride on the see-saw with a good buddy.

(Look at the disgruntled child waiting for his turn.)

Elation after the dads finally give the kids a turn.

The baby to the left is five months old. Kristiana is 10 1/2 months.

Anna-Kate's a little big for her age, Kristiana is a lot small for her age.

What can I say?  We're hobbits.

Krisitiana found a little treasure at the park.

I received this table cloth for a wedding present.

I always thought it clashed with everything and was way too loud. 

But, with fall harvest gourds a top this table cloth has suddenly become festive.

Be Fair

In the last week have been enjoying fall festivities:

The Bull: I love this bull's hump. He had the biggest one. (Heart of Texas Fair)

The Baylor Bear: Showing off his stuff.

Alexander Ride'em Cowboy

The Birds!

It's that time of year

when all the North American birds fill all the places to perch in all of Texas. They're going south.

Alexander's two  favorite things reading in his "jamas"

Pumpkin Princess: She couldn't get enough of the pumpkins

Alexander King of the Duck Races

The Java Jive

For my Gonzaga crones, I am sure some of you will remember this one.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EE69jBxZuXg

Café-o-Denial


I am in denial.  I should know that my coffee intake has reached unhealthy levels, when the first thing I drink after my morning jog is a cup of coffee instead of water; what I crave after eating a meal, morning, noon, or night, is a cup of coffee.  If I do not have coffee, I will have tea;  For a cheap lunch—latte.  Yeah, I should cut back.  I used to have one weak cup of office coffee a day.  Now that I am getting up so early and making breakfast, coffee et al, I drink one large cup of coffee at home, then one to two cups at work, and sometimes a cup in the afternoon if I am desperate for a pick me up.  Eek! Oh well, one self-improvement project at a time, and this one is not on the list yet, but it’s making its way there. 

For the past four days the waking up on the dot thing has been a roller coaster.  Kristiana has been actively (obnoxiously) alerting her parents of her needs in the night.  I have awakened every morning and prayed everyday but one.  Alas, I have not worked out every morning due to waking up later, and I put praying as the obvious priority above working out.

This morning, for the first time in almost a week, I woke up on the dot (meaning I didn’t hit the snooze three or four times).  The fact that I was able to jump out of bed and get going does make me feel like I conquered the day.  I prayed and went for a jog.  I haven’t been for a jog in a long while.  It’s been raining too hard.  I have been doing my workout video.  But I have to say, nothing PUNCTUATES that dot like a good jog.  I think I will repeat it.  It also helped that I did not have Kristiana in the jogging stroller.  I liked jogging with her when it was light at 6:00 a.m., but now that the stars are still out at 6:00 a.m. I get concerned for our safety.

Pray for my friend and her family as they struggle with a new evil in their lives.  It is an ugly world out there, but inside our hearts we can plant a beautiful, fruitful garden.

This, That and Tot Talk: Get Presents

Not much to report on the home front (Prayer in the morning is going fine, so long as Kristiana does not cry half the night like last night.  Maybe she didn't like the coffee I had at 8:30 p.m. last night.  Andrew and I think it's time to begin weaning, which is so bittersweet), BUT enough of that, today is Tot Talk Tuesday...


My father-in-law came for a visit over the weekend.  It is always sad when he has to leave again.  Alexander has become quite attached to him.  They were totally engaged all weekend long.  When Granddad (a.k.a. Gaw-maw, which is what Alexander calls all his grandparents) was saying good-bye, he told Alexander that he loved him and that he would see him at Christmas.  To which Alexander replied,

"Yeah okay.  We go play outside then and get presents. Bye. Love you."  We were all impressed that Alexander remembered what we did last Christmas.

Waking Up: The Heroic Moment

I did it. Last night I resolved to wake up on the dot, pray, exercise, make breakfast, have a family meal and start the day right.

This morning, the alarm sounded at 5:45 a.m. and I slipped out of bed as slowly and quietly as possible, so as not to wake my husband and baby. I don’t know if I achieved that as the cat came storming in mewing loudly to be fed. I grabbed my workout clothes and hastened to the kitchen where I fed the cat. I put the workout video in the DVD player so that it would cue up while I was praying. Then I grabbed our Orthodox Morning Prayer book and turned toward our Icon corner. As I began to pray I reminded myself, this moment is not about all the things I have to do this morning before I go to work, but about starting the day right with the Lord—so I should not rush these prayers. Mission accomplished in that area.

(St. Josemaria Escriva pray for us. Pray that I may continue to wake up on the “dot,” before the family has risen, so that I may begin the day right with the Lord.)

Afterward, I blasted forward into the day. I worked out; showered and dressed; cared for the children; made breakfast and prepared everyone to leave the house.

Shortly after my husband had left for work and I was heading out the door, I discovered that my husband had lovingly put my things in the car for me locked it and left. So, now all my things were locked in the car including my keys, cell phone and wallet—oops. On a borrowed phone, I had to call a locksmith and my work letting them know I would be late. Then I cooled my heels.

I always think I want things to slow down. This morning as my keys were locked in the car, I was given that gift. After I took a deep breath, Alexander took a long potty break—if you know what I mean—and he finished his breakfast. Then HE picked up all the train tracks, so we could have “rug time” (God bless preschool for teaching him “rug time”). We sat and read two whole stories with lots of words. He was so attentive and patient. It was awesome. It was nice to have an extra hour this morning with Alex and see how much he has learned and matured. Kristiana was pretty cute and loving too.

Waking Up Slowly

Today as I prepared for my Mom's group "Bible Study," which is tomorrow night, the following quote awakened me.

"We are more likely to pray if we set a specific time for prayer. Unlike the sluggard who turns on his bed like a door on hinges (Proverbs 26:14), we set our alarm and rise. Saint Josemaria Escriva refers to this as the heroic moment: 'Conquer yourself each day from the very first moment, getting up on the dot, at a set time, without granting a single minute to laziness. If, with the help of God, you conquer yourself in that moment, you'll have accomplished a great deal for the rest of the day.'"

I must admit I have fallen asleep.  I have broken my routine.  For two and a half months I was getting up early in the morning and praying and exercising.  But, in the past two and a half weeks I have taken to sleeping a little longer.  I get up and make everyone breakfast and we sit, say a blessing, and have breakfast together.  As glorious as that has been, it is no substitute for where I have fallen down elsewhere.  At first I rationalized the extra sleep, because it was the cure for me being sick and rundown.  But, I see that I really need to cut out watching T.V. earlier and go to bed so that I can start my day right with the Lord.

Tot Talk Tuesday: What Color Hair

"Alexander, what color is mommy's hair?"

"Black!"

"Alexander, what color is daddy's hair?

"Brown!"

Alexander,what color is your baby sister's hair?"

"Pink!"

Kristiana's Takes a Licking & Keeps on Ticking

This is what Kristiana looks like when she is under the weather, and has a fever.
Yep, she can't stop moving.

Turning of the Leaves in Texas

A warm inviting table set for four--The leaves do not change in Texas, but these place mats are a wonderful compromise. I picked up these adorable leaves at Wally World for $2.00 each. Alexander made this table cloth all sticky (BTW, he loves the leaves). I was willing to let it go since he's 2 years old and destined to make it sticky again tomorrow. But, he told me so a couple of times, so I have already replaced it with a green table cloth, which I like better.

There is a pumpkin spice candle in the center and chicken salt and pepper shakers. I almost bought a cornucopia to put in the center and then decided I did not have a place to store it in the off season. I am enamored with this decoration. During harvest time we have so much to be thankful for.

Shameless self promotion: I just posted this picture, because the painting over the table is mine and I love it. I think is fits perfectly in our dining room. I wish I had time and space to paint.

And finally, this week's menu. It was arduous grocery shopping over the weekend, because it was raining. There is nothing too special on the menu this week. I used a Julia Child version of meat loaf recipe and made the meat loaf on Saturday, so all we have to do is heat it up. Next weekend my father-in-law will be here. If he permits, we may try some interesting French recipes.

Protection of Theotokos

Hail Mary, full of grace!

Mini Me!

I won the office "Biggest Loser" competition and chunk of cash too.

I lost 28 lbs., and counting.

How I did it:

Prayer

30 days straight of "Jillian Michael 30 Day Shred"

(thanks for the recommendation Jen and Sarah)

Lots of early morning 2 1/2 mile jogs with baby Kristiana

Toast every day for breakfast, salad every day for lunch,

smaller portions of whatever we ate for dinner,

small snacks and deserts when needed.

No calorie, fat or carb counting.

Support from friends and family

Before

After

Beauty and the Beef

Well, here she is folks. This is my beautiful table. After writing my previous post, I took a trip to Bed, Bath and Beyond, to look for table cloths. Surprise! They just happened to have a few tables cloths on clearance up front. Of course, it took a bribe of M&M's to get my children to stop misbehaving while I was in the store. Alexander took a couple laps of the store (I forgot my leash, which he did wear at the grocery store in the morning, and was fine with it. I was making excuses all over the grocery store, but mom's kept telling me, "Oh you don't have to tell me, honey. I had one for my kid."). Kristiana screamed her head off for five minutes when I got inside the store. I do not know what her problem was. I couldn't leave I needed a new trash can and cooking string too badly. But, they both sat in the cart quietly after I bribed them with containers of mini-M&M's. I am seriously going to pay for my rewarding bad behavior someday. Anyway, back to my pretty table. I bought this table cloth, which is yellow, as well as second pastel green table cloth. I do not normally use table cloths, because they always get dirty and I never seem to be able to get them clean. The cat also sits on the table and messes everything up (watchout, kittty, you're about to get squirted with water right between the eyes). Further, I only had one table cloth before this point. But, after having some sort of "Come to Jesus" moment over setting the scene for holy family meals, I am converted. Now, I will be collecting table clothes, place mats and candles suitable for liturgical, meal celebration.

See the two figures in the middle. The one in the foreground is an angel holding a pineapple. It's a welcome angel, but in my family it represents my little brother who is now praying for all of us along with the angels. He brought the lore of the pineapple to our home. The other figure has it's arms crossed across it's heart. It's called "gracious," but it reminded my husband and I of how Byzantines pray. Crossing arms across your chest represents angel wings. Praying can be "gracious."

Bifteck Hache A La Layonnaise

Julia says, "Shock is the reaction of some Americans we have encountered who learn that real French people living in France eat hamburgers. They do eat them, and when sauced with any of the suggestions in the following recipes, the French hamburger is an excellent and relatively economical main course for an informal party."

Julia recommended buying the leanest ground beef for this dish, which is so, so funny, because then it is promptly drowned in a delicious butter and vermouth sauce. We have gone through a second pound of butter. Butter has officially been added to my weekly grocery list--so long as we are mastering the art of French cooking.

Andrew is the one who decided to make this entree and he prepared it all by himself. Of course it was the best burger ever. We may never go back to American-style burgers. Sure, we will partake at your every day, run of the mill barbeque, but I am not a huge fan of buns, so this is a great revelation. Bon Apetit!

Menu Planning and the Liturgical Year

As I have said before, I am doing a Catholic Mom’s book reading and Bible study at a nearby church. The focus of last week’s meeting was food preparation. There were lots of ideas for making the preparation process flow more smoothly and lots of tips on making food more central in bringing your family together to pray, share your hearts, and foster growth as Christians. One of the suggestions in the book was to make your table match the liturgical calendar in both settings (table cloths and candles) and in food. As Eastern Christians we already do this somewhat for major feasts, but to be honest we struggle to make our daily meals formal and holy.

In order to improve in this area of our lives I will be attempting to make our table setting more beautiful, to continue to plan meals, and to bring everyone together at the table for meals. By bringing everyone together at the table to share a meal, I hope that we can incorporate more Christian practices of reading Bible passages, saying prayers, and simply breaking bread together and conversing.

For a long time Alexander has insisted eating at the coffee table, because it is just his size and because he can convince us to turn on cartoons while he is eating. Recently, I have been placing his breakfast at the dining table and Praise be to God, Alex has not made a big deal of it is like he has in the past.

On Friday morning, the morning after our Mom’s Group meeting, I got up early and made everyone breakfast and placed it at the table and called everyone to breakfast. We don’t usually all eat breakfast at the same time. I usually make myself something before or after the kids and hubby. I’ll just eat fast while doing one of my other morning chores. Hubby just rushes about and either will eat what I make or just drink coffee and then come back to the house and eat something after his morning class. Needless to say, eating breakfast together was wonderful and is something I want to continue. Breakfast is the perfect meal to have together, because the kids are not grumpy and needy. I will try to not short change dinner either.

On to menu planning: below is this week’s menu for dinners (it’s a bad scan, click on it, it will get bigger), complete with liturgical feasts. The kids usually eat kid things--ravioli, sandwiches, etc. I have a picky eater. I have a calendar with the readings for the day, so we will attempt to do a short reading each day. My friend suggested reading from a picture Bible for the kids. I may try that. Although, our picture Bible is abridged (obviously), and it can be difficult getting the right message out of it.

Tuesday, we will go celebrate the feast of the Archangels at a friend’s house potlatch style. I think my Tuesday meal will transfer well.

…baby’s crying. That means no editing. (Your turn to post your menu, Eleri) Blessed cooking and homemaking to all!

Psalm 31

¹⁰ wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.

¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.

¹² She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.

¹³ She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.

¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.

¹⁵ She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.

¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.

¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.

¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.

²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

²² She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.

²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.

²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

Claytonopolis This Week

Last Friday, I went to a JBF consignment sale. I bought a toddler leash for Alex. I said that I would never use a leash on my child, but I had a very terrifying moment in Sears in which he started running around and could not be contained. I could not see him or hear him. It was terrifying thinking that anyone could kidnap him and he would be gone forever. So I bought the leash to keep him close when in stores.

Saturday, we did what every other Wacoan does on a late Saturday afternoon. We went to Wal-mart. Alexander was in the cart behaving very well. About thirty minutes into our shopping trip Alex said, “I want to get out.” I told him that he couldn’t and he insisted. So I said,

“All right, but you have to wear the Elmo leash and stay close to Mommy. Okay?”

He was okay with this and excited that it had Elmo on it. I put it on him and looked at him. He did not look happy. I stepped a few feet away and said, “Come on, let’s go over there.” He did not move, he did not say anything, but he had the look of utter humiliation. His little brow was furled, his head hung low and the corners of his mouth were starting to turn down. I asked him what was wrong, and he said,

“Mom, I want to take it off.”

I answered, “No, you can’t because you will run away from mommy. But, if I take it off will you stay close to mommy?” He agreed that he would, and he did.

What a strange triumph. I did not know a 2 ¾ years old child could feel humiliated in such a way. I did not think that he could comprehend that this was something by which to be humiliated. He learned a valuable lesson—to stay close to mommy. I am going to keep the leash in my bag for the next time he feels like running away in a store. My feelings about baby leashes have not changed, but as a parent I can never say never. Baby leashes have their place.

On Sunday, Andrew and I made omelettes for dinner. I have attempted making omelettes before, but they have never turned out quite right. With the help of Julia Child, we both made very good omelettes. They were not perfect, but much better the previous attempts.

On Monday, I made basted herb chicken Provence style with a perfect garlic, wine, hollandaise sauce. It was the first time that my hollandaise has been perfect in every way imaginable. I did something very un-French to achieve this. I melted the butter in the microwave instead of the stove. Then I added the cooled wine reduction to the egg yolks, then I slowly added the butter to the yolks as I whisked. The result was the perfect –aise part of the sauce.

Alex did the dishes.

Tuesday, Alexander became a super hero. In the morning, I left the room and when I came back he had turned over the coffee table, then he roared. I asked him to get dressed. He speedily got naked and ran out the back door in to the open parking area. He had a huge smile of glee. He got to the car looked down at his naked body and his eyes got very big. It was the look of, “Holy crap I am naked and outside where everyone can see.” Then he ran back inside. I thought this was funny, because I ran around naked outside until I was five. Mom would have me get dressed and ten minutes after going outside, I was naked. What can I say? I was comfortable with myself.

Say a prayer for Aunt Amy and her family as she enters the breast cancer ranks.

No Ma'am - Kristiana's Game

(facebook: http://theclaytonianchronicle.blogspot.com/2009/09/no-maam-kristianas-game.html)

For Mature Audiences Only - Some Scenes of Food Sex

Au jour d’hui, filets de poisson poches au vin blanc avec béarnaise sauce et champignons sautés a la bourdelaise.

That was a mouthful (ha, ha, no pun intended). Translation – poached fish (mahi mahi) in white wine with buttery wine sauce and mushrooms sautéed with shallots, garlic and herbs. From the beginning of preparation to the end of cooking it took a total of 35 minutes. This meal would be very easy for any novice cook to tackle and would be very manageable for moms. But this meal more than anything was sex on a plate.

Tonight’s dinner was an impromptu dive into Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Alexander woke up from his nap at 4:30 p.m. and he cried almost nonstop about one thing or another until we were finally fed up enough with him to put him back to bed at 7:30 p.m. We also put Kristiana to bed. As you can imagine it was a bit mad around here until then, so we were not able to begin cooking dinner. When they were finally asleep we were ready to kick back and release. Andrew asked, “What’s for dinner? I’m starving.”

I thought about it and threw out, “Mahi Mahi.” It was on sale at the grocery store today. He asked,

“What else?”

We discussed it some more. It was a delectable meeting of the minds as we threw out ideas of dishes from MtAoFC. Finally we had come up with the meal presented above. We madly cooked. Andrew cooked the mushroom dish. I poached to fish and made the béarnaise sauce. We danced about the kitchen, chopping and mincing, seasoning and sautéing.

(I am so embarrassed to admit this...why am I posting this online.) The product of our tiny effort resulted in immediate food-gasms upon the first bite. We both let out enormous, guttural groans. The phone rang and we both looked at each other, like “Should we answer?” Andrew answered the phone, and we both looked at each other like we were doing something naughty. Each component went so well with each other. Each morsel melted into the palette.

Afterward, when we were cleaning up, I turned to Andrew and said, “I feel like I just cheated on you with another man.”

He quipped, “I feel like I just watched you cheat on me with another man.” Then Andrew turned on his heal, bounced to the door. “I am going to go smoke a cigarette and then go pick up a cappuccino.”

“Who cheated on who, Babe?” This is a bad precedence. This is becoming our Saturday night guilty pleasure. Further, we have used a pound of butter in one week. Strangely enough, we had both lost two pounds this week. And we had a lot of fun cooking together.

Bon Apetit!

I Tackle Her

What are big brothers for if not for rough housing? This is the dulled version on soft sofa cushions. Usually, I catch him lovingly smashing his sister's face into the carpet followed by blood curdling screams of a scorned little sister. Alex really wishes she would just rough house back.

(On facebook http://theclaytonianchronicle.blogspot.com/2009/09/i-tackle-her.html)