Getting Back To It

It has now been two months since I last posted. I have made a decision that I will be posting at least weekly to give me an outlet for the goings on in my life. I have been convicted about my habits, or lack thereof in regards to spiritual nourishment, so I have made more concrete expectations of myself. With this, I will not update my catechism progress with a page number, but with a paragraph number.

Now, about a week after my last post, Ben got a virus. We noted that he was a little labored breathing at our couples faith sharing, so we made a stop by our pede's house to see what she thought. She was not overly concerned at that point. Well, we woke up at about 3:00 am and he had a fever. We went immediately to the hospital. His oxygen saturation was low because he had too much snot. Well, he stayed at Children's for about a day and a half all told and recovered quite nicely.



Since then, we have been getting used to the family life with three. We have begun a weekly dinner with Frank and Carol and have found it to be quite lovely. It is always good to have a consistent time when your children are expected to practice their good table manners at a nice dinner. I decided that if they are not worth the good china, then who is?

Catechism update: paragraph 396... and counting.

Strong Mr. Ben

This Sunday, we had Ben's baptism. We had Fr. Spenner at his mass and it was just a Spirit-filled day. The psalm used was one of Valerie's favorites. The song during communion was the magnificat, and as this was truly our year of Mary and we say the magnificat every night before bed.

Now, Father Spenner's homily was something else. He was really on that day. He spoke of a Pope Benedict XVII and told everyone, it IS possible! He spoke of our universal call to holiness and how we are all anointed as Priest, Prophet and King! He saw the Larson's son Johnathan get the baptismal candle and pressed him into service to hold the book of the baptismal rite for him twice during the ceremony, and he did an awesome job being put on the spot like that.

This day was one of the best gatherings of the most faithful and important people in my life. We are so blessed to have such a gathering of friends that are so capable of speaking of our faith together. People who make you want to run harder and faster in your own life. We talk of our own weaknesses and how they harden our resolve to work harder and how we admire what we see of virtue in each other doing the same. What a blessed day!

But, the best part of the day.... Benedict was set on his stomach on the floor and he rolled himself onto his back by himself. This is at three weeks old! I had to call someone, so I called my parents. Of-course, my father said what I was feeling. We're surprised, but not shocked. Today, when I was cleaning his dirty diaper up, he was on his stomach and held himself up off the changing pad with his elbows. He is a strong boy and it seems that he will make some of these milestones earlier than his brothers.

Now, of-course, if I wait more than a day after an event, I can never quite capture it, so I will leave out the rest of the details.

Then, last night, Fr. Spenner saw me walk into the pastoral council meeting and said, "Hello, Father." Then he went on musing about the Pope Benedict XVII again, "...another German Pope..." He was in a rather fun mood that night, or week...

Now, time to clean the boys up and get them ready for bed. Family prayer time!

Catechism Update: p. 66

Catechism

Two weeks ago, Valerie pulled out all of her Catholic Social Teaching books and I thought out loud, "I can't wait to begin reading all of this!"


to which she responded, "I think there are more important things with which to begin, like the Catechism." Well, that night, I began my fifth attempt at reading the catechism from cover to cover.

When I recounted this conversation a few days later, she did not recall saying anything about other reading, much less the catechism. At this point, I am just calling it a good idea.

So, at the end of all of my posts, I will give a catechism update. There are 688 pages before the first index.

Catechism update: Page 52!

The First Thursday

With Valerie not working on Thursdays, I am now beginning a new routine. She is with her parents, so instead of rushing to the their house after work, I run home to get into some work.

Today I was able to cover the insides of three windows with the clear shrinking plastic insulation without covering the blinds. It took a little planning, but they look fine, overall. Then I cleaned a stubborn poo stain out of our sheets, mattress pad and the kidapottamus swaddler that we love so much. Then I was even able to finish loading the dishwasher and wash the sheets before she left her parents' home.

Now all I have left to do is re-make the bed as she drives home and we will have had our first successful Thursday in our new life. Now I just have to learn how to get stuff done when the family is here, too.

I decided I would take the time My wife was using to name her blog to get mine set up and begin this process.

News - Today, Benedict is 10 days old. He is acting like a normal newborn, being awake for periods and asleep for periods.

Both boys think he is the most amazing thing. Charlie impulsively wants to grab him and pull him close and give him a big hug. Henry wants to spend most of his day with him. He can lie down for a half hour (or at least 15 minutes) and watch him. He runs to Ben if he hears him crying and says, "I need to help Ben."

I am taking my second week off of work more selfishly than for the need of the family. I am enjoying the free time and will have plenty to catch up when I get back.