M.Div. in the family

My fantastic mother-in-law graduated from Bethel University with a Masters of Divinity over the holiday weekend.  Congratulations Doreen!  We love you and are very proud of you.

Bring Abbie's Brother Home!

Click on the pic to find out how to help!

Awww...

high standard of living, except for the flippin' cold

As much as upper mid-westerners kvetch and moan about the weather (and justifiably so, after that ridiculously cold, long winter), it seems we may otherwise be satisfied enough to continue to make a life here.  Something funky happening in Illinois though, cuz they all want to leave. 

This graph and an article are found at gallup.com

This past winter I was wishing that our forebears hadn't settled in MN and IA, however.  I love hot weather.  And water.  Why couldn't my great grandparents have immigrated to SoCal?  But if we were to move far enough away to escape snow and ice, we'd be too far from our families, so...we'll just keep whining about the weather.

Easter Joy

"He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay."  Matthew 28:6

Happy Easter!  This is our tired but happy family at about 11:00 p.m. after the Easter Vigil. Nate was confirmed and had his first communion.

worth a snicker

south metro drivers: beware

...because Michael just turned 15 and starts his two-week Driver's Ed course today!

Holy cow, how did that happen?  We so do not feel ready for this.  I 'spose parents never do.

I'm gonna pop some tags, and cut some bangs, and meow meow

 

In 2nd grade I had that poor little girl's haircut.  No wonder she's unhappy, there's a giant mushroom on her head.

recent Nicky stuff...

Or rather Dominic, 'cuz to everyone except family, he goes by his full name now.  And I find the extra syllable handy when I'm yelling it across the house sometimes, too.  But anyhoo, he had some cool stuff happen recently.  His team won their 3rd/4th grade basketball division...

And he turned 10 this week.  Yowsers!

And he just got glasses.  His prescription is pretty mild, so not sure yet if he'll wear them all the time.  Definitely not at recess...

"I believe; help my unbelief!"

We've been singing an English version of this at Mass recently and I think it's the bee's knees.

 1. Godhead here in hiding, whom I do adore,
Masked by these bare shadows, shape and nothing more,
See, Lord, at thy service low lies here a heart
Lost, all lost in wonder at the God thou art.

2. Seeing, touching, tasting are in thee deceived:
How says trusty hearing? that shall be believed;
What God's Son has told me, take for truth I do;
Truth himself speaks truly or there's nothing true.

3. On the cross thy godhead made no sign to men,
Here thy very manhood steals from human ken:
Both are my confession, both are my belief,
And I pray the prayer of the dying thief.

4. I am not like Thomas, wounds I cannot see,
But can plainly call thee Lord and God as he;
Let me to a deeper faith daily nearer move,
Daily make me harder hope and dearer love.

5. O thou our reminder of Christ crucified,
Living Bread, the life of us for whom he died,
Lend this life to me then: feed and feast my mind,
There be thou the sweetness man was meant to find.

6. Bring the tender tale true of the Pelican;
Bathe me, Jesu Lord, in what thy bosom ran---
Blood whereof a single drop has power to win
All the world forgiveness of its world of sin.

7. Jesu, whom I look at shrouded here below,
I beseech thee send me what I thirst for so,
Some day to gaze on thee face to face in light
And be blest for ever with thy glory's sight.
Amen.