Quick Takes

1.)       We had a week of sickness in the house last week.  Thank God for Mere Mere and Mimi, who took care of the kids and brought meals when I needed to get to work and then got sick myself along with John.  After 20 minutes at work last Wednesday, I knew that I couldn’t stay a minute longer and drove home to capitulate to the 24 hour bug.  Had to pull over on the highway and again at a church parking lot to gracefully puke, if one can do that.

      2.)   Yesterday, the permanency plan meeting for the kids’ case took place.  Because of confidentiality, we can’t talk about anything that was said in the room.  However, the father (who is snowed in somewhere on a job site) and his lawyer did not answer their phones for this meeting. Everyone else managed to participate. I hope he has a very good reason for missing the call.  Please keep this in your prayers. We want the best for the kids, and we don’t think the best thing is what the CW is recommending.  We pray every night that the judge make a wise decision on 3/14 at the court hearing.

     3.)  Our niece, Maddy, is in Madama Butterfly at Kennedy Center in DC!  She auditioned with other 4 and 5 year olds for the non-speaking part of “Trouble,” Butterfly’s child.  They were looking for kids who are good listeners and who can ‘sleep’ on stage for 8 minutes or so—not easy for little kids! We are so proud of her and excited for her.  Sure wish we could see her onstage.  After her wig fitting, she looked like a little boy in a kimono.  Amazing.  Love you, Madge! 
      
     4.)  For months and months, I’ve neglected to exercise. L No more! I have to get back into running shape for a ½ marathon in June, and just for my health and sanity.  A few days of running, a few days of Zumba, and a few days of some good lifting will get me back to where I need to be.

      5.) John has finals in 2 weeks.  I cannot believe he is halfway through grad school! He does an awesome job both at school and at home.

      6.) My next home project is our small bathroom.  It really needs an update. The medicine cabinet is huge and covers part of an outlet.  There’s no good storage, and we need it in that small space. That reminds me that I never posted after photos of the main bathroom.


      7.)   I’m hoping to catch up on work this weekend.  Thank God for the VPN.  With all that’s going on, I got behind on year end reports.  It’ll all get done!

I Do, February 10, 2001: A Decade Later

Ten years married today.  10 years. Married. Today.  How in the world did John C. ever convince himself to marry Jenny M?? I sometimes still marvel at that. Most days I marvel at that.

We became friends in one of the the most romantic cities in the world-Rome during our semester abroad.  A year later in February 1997, we started dating.  A couple of break ups, a vocation search, a move to DC and the best proposal at the Lincoln Memorial later, and here we are: in WA state, a career change, some infertility, a foster parent license, and a set of twins later, in our own piece of heaven on earth.

Thank you, my dearest friend and husband, for gently nudging me towards striving to be my best, for your patience, for your humor, for your being just you who I met in a state called Texas and fell head over heels in love with 14 years ago in a country called Italy.

You are the best thing that has happened to this Florissant girl, to Little Man, Cherub and Thumbelina and Jill.  Please, don't ever change.

To paraphrase a line from "Sense and Sensibility" (John and I do not share a love of Jane Austen :) ): May I endeavor to deserve you.

Happy 10th, dearest John.

A Tale of Two Cities and Two Sacraments

Our family has been blessed to have celebrated two sacraments within a week of each other. First was Zelie who is the newest member of our family and is now a member of the family of God.  She was baptized at her new home parish on January 30! John was able to be present as her godfather.   From the photos I’ve seen it looked like such a happy and peaceful event.  I’ve been showing the twins the photos from that weekend, and every time I point to the baby, they say, “Bay-bee SAY-lee!”  She looked so sweet and beautiful in her baptismal gown, quietly sleeping as her happy parents, friends and relatives gazed down upon the little girl who has brought such joy to us all since we learned of her existence and the possibility of her joining our family.  God bless you, Zelie Yvonne.

                          Newly baptized Zelie with Mommy and Daddy.

            Zelie with Uncle Jeff, Uncle John, Mommy and Daddy (Missing are Aunt Miriam and Uncle Joe)

         Pere Pere (pronounced "Pay Pay") with his youngest granddaughter.

                        Mere Mere (pronounced "May May")

A week or so later, John’s sister, Miriam (Confirmation name Gianna) was confirmed at our beautiful parish by Bishop Eusebio Elizondo along with several other teenagers and a few adults.  Her sister Ellen, was her sponsor, but due to her new status as mom of a newborn in another state,  I honored to be Miriam’s proxy sponsor.  Miriam’s mom stood in for me at the baptism since I was home with the twins.  The family that proxies together….

Standing behind Miriam and seeing the young woman she has become made it difficult for me not to tear up. Where have the years gone?? She is a lovely, responsible, talented, fun person much beloved by her nieces and nephews, especially by two of them who melted down an hour and fifteen minutes into the confirmation Mass. Thank you, Mere Mere and Pere Pere for helping Daddy so much with the kids!

"Gianna" and the Confirmati.  She is on the far left standing next to our pastor.

                              "Gianna" (middle) and friends.

Our family now has a baby Catholic and a fully adult Catholic.  God is good.