After hemming and hawing over wanting to take the kids to daily Mass but being too afraid to try it solo, I’ve finally decided that we’re actually going to do it. Tomorrow. 8:15. Get ready, daily Mass goers! My crew is invading tomorrow! I’m equally excited and nervous about this adventure. Well…maybe…actually…definitely, I’m more nervous than anything. I’m excited because:
What’s not to love about starting your day receiving the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ in the celebration of Mass?
I have visions of the kids sitting like perfect angels at Sunday Mass because of the added “practice” at daily Mass. (I hear you chuckling, Reader.)
I’m nervous because:
I’m 21 weeks pregnant and going to Mass solo with a 3- and 2-year-old.
There are fewer people at daily Mass, and any noises the kiddos make will be amplified.
What do I do when I go to receive Communion? Should I sit in the front pew and leave them? Do I leave Jane and bring Walt? Balance Walt on my hip, hold Jane by the hand, and pray that Walt doesn’t try to swipe the Eucharist as I wait for the priest to place it on my tongue? Maybe I’ll disqualify myself from Communion with thoughts about my misbehaving kids so it will be a non-issue.
Did I mention I’m going solo and Philip won’t be there?
Nonetheless, we’re going. I’m writing about it on my blog so that we’ll actually follow through and do it. We’re going, and I’m going to pray that it’s not a complete disaster. Can you please pray for us? Can you pray that my kids’ guardian angels prevent them from recreating a scene from “The Exorcist” at daily Mass? Can you pray that the others in attendance take pity on me if someone (probably me) has a breakdown? Can you pray that they think something like, “Oh, that poor dear. At least she’s trying,” and not something like, “I pray that they’ll never return!” Can you pray that we’re seated next a sweet old grandma that thinks my kids’ “participation” at Mass is a sign that the Church is alive and well?
Maybe…just maybe I should ask you pray that I stop worrying about what the other Mass goers are thinking, realize that they probably aren’t paying attention to us (unless, of course, Walt makes a beeline for the altar during the consecration), and that I just focus on what’s actually happening at Mass. Yup, that’s what I’m going to ask you to pray for. Pray that we actually show up and that my kids get to experience daily Mass. Mostly pray for that.
Thank you! I’ll report back tomorrow. I better go and start praying.
Do you want to know why Philip is the best husband ever? He worked an overnight shift at the hospital on Friday, came home Saturday morning, and he insisted that he would rather take a family trip to the zoo than take a snooze. In typical Husband and Father of the Year fashion, he gave me a big hug and said he was looking forward to our family outing. “Go and take a nice, warm shower. Have some you time since you’ve been working so hard with the kids. I’ll pack us some lunches and get the kids ready. Let’s leave by 9:30.”
We had a great morning at the zoo. Here are a few pictures of our fun trip:
We told the kids that there were new baby lion cubs at the zoo, so they insisted on bringing their stuffed Nala & Simba from “The Lion King.” Here’s Walt, holding up Nala to this tiger’s cage, and saying, “Hi, Tiger!”
Watching the new lion cubs play with each other.
Giving the goats some love at the petting zoo.
The rhino looked like he needed a hug.
Jane thought this turtle wanted to give her a ride. She was disappointed when he didn’t actually move.
Taking a break for lunch. This peacock stayed nearby since Janie & Walt liked to throw him some food.
Jane in timeout for stealing Walt’s chips. If there’s one thing you should never do to Walt, it is steal his food.
Finishing our visit at the aquarium. Walt is pretty fanatical about “Finding Nemo” these days, so every single fish (clown fish or not) is “Nemo.” He ran from one tank to the next saying, “Wook! Wook! Memo! Memo!”
Thanks to Philip for taking one for the team and for wanting to take a trip to the zoo instead of a snooze. Once we got home, the kids had some baths, we read some stories, and everyone took a two-hour nap. Then, Janie and I went to her little friend’s birthday party while Philip and Walt had some guy time at home. Janie and I picked up some pizza on the way home from the birthday party, and Philip and I watched some of our favorite shows after the kids went to bed. It was a great Saturday!
The Nebraska Cornhusker football team “adopted” 7-year-old brain cancer fighter, Jack Hoffman, under the leadership of former player Rex Burkhead (Number 22) through the Uplifting Athletes Campaign.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers and “Team Jack” continue to raise funds in the hopes of finding a cure for brain cancer. At any given Husker event, you’re likely to see a red “Team Jack” shirt on at least one fan.
During today’s Spring Game (the annual red and white scrimmage), Jack made the biggest play of the day. Jack took the field with the red team under the leadership of quarterback Taylor Martinez. Wearing a number 22 jersey in homage to former Husker player Rex Burkhead, Jack awaited the snap next to Martinez on 4th down. Martinez took the snap and handed the ball off to Jack. Jack ran down the field with his red team “blocking” his way through the white Husker jerseys. The crowd went wild as Jack ran into the end zone to make a 69-yard touchdown. According to an article on KETV.com, head coach Bo Pelini said the team asked Jack’s dad if he would like to participate in the spring game.
“Jack’s a young man who has touched the hearts of a lot of people. Our football team and the student body have gotten behind him, and he’s become a big part of the team,” Pelini said.
Here is another articlefrom ESPN.com about Jack’s big play. Here is the video of Jack’s 69-yard touchdown: To learn more about “Team Jack” and their crusade to cure pediatric brain cancer, please visit Team Jack Legacy Fund. Go, Team Jack! Go, Huskers!
The Nebraska Cornhusker football team “adopted” 7-year-old brain cancer fighter, Jack Hoffman, under the leadership of former player Rex Burkhead (Number 22) through the Uplifting Athletes Campaign.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers and “Team Jack” continue to raise funds in the hopes of finding a cure for brain cancer. At any given Husker event, you’re likely to see a red “Team Jack” shirt on at least one fan.
During today’s Spring Game (the annual red and white scrimmage), Jack made the biggest play of the day. Jack took the field with the red team under the leadership of quarterback Taylor Martinez. Wearing a number 22 jersey in homage to former Husker player Rex Burkhead, Jack awaited the snap next to Martinez on 4th down. Martinez took the snap and handed the ball off to Jack. Jack ran down the field with his red team “blocking” his way through the white Husker jerseys. The crowd went wild as Jack ran into the end zone to make a 69-yard touchdown. According to an article on KETV.com, head coach Bo Pelini said the team asked Jack’s dad if he would like to participate in the spring game.
“Jack’s a young man who has touched the hearts of a lot of people. Our football team and the student body have gotten behind him, and he’s become a big part of the team,” Pelini said.
Here is another articlefrom ESPN.com about Jack’s big play. Here is the video of Jack’s 69-yard touchdown: To learn more about “Team Jack” and their crusade to cure pediatric brain cancer, please visit Team Jack Legacy Fund. Go, Team Jack! Go, Huskers!
We cancelled cable about three years ago and subscribed to Netflix. Aside from a few cable shows like “Top Chef” that we can’t seem to find anywhere or the occasional Husker football game that doesn’t air on a major network, we haven’t missed cable or the bill.
Since cancelling cable, Philip and I have found some fantastic movies and television shows that we previously probably never would have given a second look.
The show chronicles the stories of the midwives and nursing nuns in 1950’s London’s East Side Nonnatus House. The women live together between making bicycle house calls to the nearby pregnant women. Each episode introduces us to new patients with quirky family members. We watch as the midwives navigate the medical and social problems hurled at them as the patients go through pregnancy, labor, delivery, and the postpartum period. The stories range from gut-wrenching to gut-busting. I laugh and cry several times each episode.
We’ve all heard that “truth is stranger than fiction.” Knowing that the show is based Jennifer Worth’s memoir makes the characters and their stories even more powerful. The memoir was previously published as The Midwife and is now titled Call the Midwife: A Memoir of Birth, Joy, and Hard Times.
Call the Midwife cover image from Amazon.com
The show just aired the first episode of Season 2 on March 31. Here is a 30-second video that gives you a glimpse into the show:
In my opinion, “Call the Midwife” is one of the few shows on television that:
Convincingly and beautifully develops its characters
Conveys their wide range of emotions
Shares the gut-wrenching stories without being vulgar or explicit
Season 2 of “Call the Midwife” airs on PBS through May 19, 2013 Sunday evenings at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. I hope you’ll catch up on the previous episodes and start tuning in Sunday evenings to this fantastic show.
Once you’ve seen a few episodes, take this fun “Which Midwife Are You?” quiz! Are you Jenny, Chummy, Trixie, or Cynthia? Apparently I’m Cynthia Miller. Which Midwife Are You?
