7 Posts, 7 Days

Starting on Monday, I'm joining Jen Fulwiler's "7 Posts, 7 Days" link-up.  Just like it sounds, I'll be writing 1 post everyday for 7 days from Monday, February 24 to Sunday, March 2.  This link-up is exactly the motivation I need to write short, imperfect posts, but to keep posting on a regular basis.  

I'm drawing up our Boucher Family Rule of Life this weekend.  My goal is to have it completely squared away by Ash Wednesday (March 5).  In the meantime, I'll probably be writing about putting it together and anything else that comes to mind!

If you want to join in the fun, come on over to the link-up here.  C'mon, you know you wanna join in!  Do it!

One way that I'm gearing up for Lent

Lent is nearly upon us, and I'm not ready--yet.  It sneaks up on me every single year, but this year, I am doing some prep work so that I can enter into the season deliberately.  I want to have a game plan, and I know that I'll desperately need one this year.  We're listing the house March 3.  Without a plan, I know I'll let myself and our family get into a rut of being in survival mode, focusing on house stuff instead of the whole Jesus dying for our sins stuff.

Philip and I started our own Happiness Project last year, but we took a hiatus from it because of my post-partum depression, the Christmas season, and life in general.  I've been wanting to revisit our Happiness Project, but I want to give it more focus.  When I was thinking about revisiting our Happiness Project, I came across Jen Fulwiler's post, "Admitting that I can't do it all...or even half of it."  

Jen wrote about the overwhelming burden we place on ourselves when we create impossible do-it-all to-do lists.  In the post, she mentions Holly Pierlot's A Mother's Rule of Life.  Have you read the book?  Do yourself and your family a favor, and read it!  

The book centers around one Catholic mama's desire to bring order and peace to her home.  To do so, Holly created a mother's rule of life modeled after the daily schedule of the Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa's order).  Holly wisely realized that the daily schedule for the Missionaries of Charity allows them to have peace, order, and ample time to accomplish only that which needs to be done for the day.   

Daily Schedule for the Missionaries of Charity 

4:30-5:00 Rise and get cleaned up 

5:00-6:30 Prayers and Mass 

6:30-8:00 Breakfast and cleanup 

8:00-12:30 Work for the poor 

12:30-2:30 Lunch and rest 

2:30-3:00 Spiritual reading and meditation 

3:00-3:15 Tea break 

3:15-4:30 Adoration 

4:30-7:30 Work for the poor 

7:30-9:00 Dinner and clean up 

9:00-9:45 Night prayers 

9:45 Bedtime  

The focus of the day is a healthy balance of prayer, work, and rest.  The Missionaries of Charity keep this simple schedule without overburdening themselves with all of the extra stuff.  By keeping their priorities in check, they are able to work with God to multiply their time doing what needs to be done and cutting the rest.  The schedule clearly shows that the women trust that God will help them to accomplish all that needs to be accomplished.    

I'm nearly finished with A Mother's Rule of Life, and I am chomping at the bit to create my own Boucher Family Rule of Life.  I've decided that creating our Family Rule and implementing it will be my big Lenten mission.  Our family will need order and peace as we list the house and prepare to move.  I want to have those habits in place before the chaos enters the scene, and I want to start living with order and peace now.

Philip and I will work together (with a whole lotta prayer!) to discuss our family mission and how best to accomplish that mission.  I plan to finish the book this weekend and start drawing up our family rule of life.  To create our family rule, I am going to examine the "5 Ps" from A Mother's Rule of Life:

1. Prayer
2. Person
3. Partner
4. Parent
5. Provider

I'm ready to abandon what the world says is best for our family and start deliberately living out what God is asking of our domestic church.  Throughout Lent, I'll be posting snippets and reflections on the various components of our Boucher Family Rule of Life.  I look forward to hearing how you structure your days with your family and how you are bringing peace and order to your home.  Now, I'm just praying for the graces to actually do what I think God is asking of our domestic church.  It's going to take a very healthy dose of humility to really hear what God is asking of me as the spiritual heart of our home.  

St. Joseph, our 2014 patron saint for our family, pray for us!    

Over at CatholicMom Today: No More Wasting the Bad Days

Head over to CatholicMom to read my post today.  It's called "No More Wasting the Bad Days."  It's about the morning I realized that God wants us to offer everything, even our silly little inconveniences, as offerings to Him.  

"We’re getting ready to list our house in the next few weeks, and the flooring guys came to do some work on the main floor while the kids and I holed ourselves up in the basement.  All.  Day.  Long.  The day had a rough start, and I was about ready to throw in the towel by 10:00 a.m.  I would rattle off the inconveniences and problems, but they would distract from and undermine the point of this post." Read More

Note: At publishing time, a family in Missouri is mourning the death of their ten-year-old daughter, Hailey Owens. Please join me in praying for Hailey's soul, her family, and her killer's conversion of heart. Let us unite any of our suffering to the cross for Hailey, her family, and her killer.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Small Success Thursday #8

Here are our small successes for this week:

Harry is 6 months old and more interested in playing peek-a-boo than packing boxes

It's been another wild week as we get ready to list the house.  March 3 is the official day it goes on the market.  Fortunately, that means having workers in the house is nearing an end.  The bad news is that means showings are on the horizon!  

Jane and Walt are both developing an appreciation for parenting.  Yesterday, Jane sat in the nursery chair while I changed Harry's diaper.

Jane:  Oh, Harry has a poopy diaper, Mommy!  When I am a kindergartener, can I change Harry's diaper?

Me:  Absolutely!  Why do you want to help change Harry?

Jane:  Because babies are so cute and tiny!  I love babies!

When I ask Jane what she wants to be when she grows up, her answer varies.  She has answered a doctor, a veterinarian, a nurse, a chef, a ballerina, etc.  In addition to whatever her answer is, she always says, "and a mommy.  I want to have a lot of babies!"

While Walt was admiring our painter working this morning, I asked Walt, "Do you want to be a painter when you grow up?"  He said, "No, a DADDY!"  He has such a sweet and loving disposition.  He loves playing with Baby Harry.

My dear friend's husband decided to get rid of some clothes that he wasn't wearing anymore, and she asked if Philip would be interested.  Philip is the lucky recipient of a few suits, dress shirts, a corduroy jacket, and several polos.  Yay for a new wardrobe and generous friends!  

We had a big weekend celebrating Jane and Philip's birthdays with both sides of our family.

Sunday morning and early afternoon, we hung out with Philip's parents, his brother, and his sister.  

Walt loves Papa because he fueled him up with chocolate cupcakes

Yay!  Jane got a house for her new Critters!  Thanks, Mimi and Papa!

Uncle Connor generously gave Jane and Walt a ride.

Sunday night, we went to my brother and sister-in-law's to celebrate the February birthdays with my parents, siblings, and their kiddos.

February birthdays - Philip, Jane, & Uncle Matt

Frances, Jenny, and Harry

 Uncle Matt joined us for dinner last night.  The kids had a ball playing with him!

Walt especially enjoyed teaching Matt about Thomas and all of his engine friends

The kids are lucky to have all of their fun uncles!

Uncle Matt even joined us for bedtime stories and gave unique readings of a few of the stories.  The kids wish he could help with bedtime every night!

I know, I know, it was more like another week in review post, but that's alright!  I'm sticking with it because this is my 8th Small Success Thursday post.  I haven't missed a week yet!  

Your turn!  What are your small successes from this week?  Head over to CatholicMom to join in the fun and share.  If you're using social media, use the hashtag #SmallSuccess.

Grade School Valentine's Day Memories

I'm reminiscing about Valentine's Day in grade school.  So many memories!

I went to St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic grade school, and every year, we had a homeroom Valentine party hosted by the sweet "room moms" that volunteered to bring treats and organize games.  Aside from the parties, I have some distinct memories.

In first grade, I was in Mrs. Walsh's homeroom.  Around Valentine's Day, my seat happened to be right in front of my mega crush, Matt.  My last name and Matt's were right next to each other in alphabetical order, so we were often paired together.  He was so sweet, smart, and funny, and I thought he was the cutest.  In addition to whatever valentines I had made with my mom for all of my classmates, I had created a special construction paper heart valentine for Matt.  As everyone was handing out their valentines, I mustered up my courage to deliver Matt my special pink creation.  He was talking to his guy friends, so I was a little nervous, but I bravely interrupted their conversation, and I handed him my valentine.  "Matt, will you be my valentine?"  It took him all but two seconds to give me an embarrassed laugh and said, "Uh, no!"  He just wasn't that into me.  Bummer.  My little first grade heart was broken, and I remember telling his big sister all about my heartbreak after school while we waited for our rides.  I told that story to Matt's wife at a bachelorette party, but I can't remember if I ever told him.  If you're reading this, Matt (and I doubt you are), you were such a heartbreaker back in first grade!  I clearly still have issues from it.  Ha!

In second grade, Mrs. Ryktarsyk's homeroom (yeah, I had to spell that name as a second grader) had a Valentine box decorating contest.  Some of the creations were huge and so impressive!  I wish I had pictures of them.

In fifth grade, I decided to create a little mischievous entertainment.  I thought it would be a good idea to stick a "Be Mine" conversation heart in my classmate Nick's uniform sweater pocket.  He had it hanging on the back of his chair, and I put it in the pocket when he wasn't looking.  I had completely forgotten about it until later that afternoon when he put his hand in his pocket, pulled out the heart, read it, and it became the hot topic in 5B for the rest of the school day.  Who could have put a "Be Mine" candy heart into Nick's pocket?  I was so thrilled with myself for creating the mystery and intrigue!  I probably had a crush on him at the time because I was beyond boy crazy.

At home, Mom and Dad put out a card and a present for each child at our seats at the kitchen table.  It was always so exciting to wake up to those special treats!  In 7th grade, our dog, Trev (named after Nebraska Cornhusker #34 Trev Alberts), got into the special treats overnight.  At that point, only 3 of the 6 kids were living at home.  Trev had jumped up onto the kitchen table, unwrapped the red cellophane wrap on all THREE of the Russell Stover boxes of chocolates, and ate every single one.  He politely left all of the wrappers behind.  The 12-pound Bichón Frisé was lucky he didn't die from it, but we had to have the carpets professionally cleaned.  My mom likes to tell the story of how my dad woke her up that morning when he was leaving for work.  "Honey, Happy Valentine's Day.  THE DAMN DOG ate all of the kids' chocolate and puked all over the house!  Gotta run.  I love you."    

What about you?  What memories do you have from your childhood Valentine's Days?  

Small Success Thursday #7

Writing this as quickly as I can and going to bed, so this is going to be the lamest Small Success Thursday post ever:

• Jane turned 4, and I think she'd say that she had a great day.  More on our fun day another time!

• I survived another week of subcontractors and household disasters in preparation for listing the house.  Yes, there are two streams of water coming out of that faucet.

• I got the kids' Valentine presents weeks ago, and I actually remembered to set them out.  Books, a puzzle, stickers, and spinning tops.  Harry didn't get a card because he's 6 months old.  Does that make me a bad mom?

• Philip got to have a man date tonight with a buddy, and he said he had a great time.  Yay for Philip taking time for himself!
• This guy loves green beans, but he mostly loves wearing them.  This was his first food other than rice cereal.  Let the love affair with food begin!

Your turn!  What are your small successes from the week?  Come over to CatholicMom to join the fun and share!  If you're using social media, use the hashtag #SmallSuccess.  Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy 4th Birthday, Jane Louise!

Dear Janie Boo,

You're four years old!  FOUR!  Can you believe it?!  Daddy and I can't.

4 years ago, we were watching the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver from our hospital room with you

and now you're a big preschooler!

Preschool Christmas sing-along

Now, we get to watch the Olympics with you and your 2 little brothers!  

I love so many things about you.  

You are so friendly and outgoing, and you want to make friends wherever we go--the neighborhood park, grocery store, library, and most recently, with all of the subcontractors doing work on the house before we move.  

You are very sensitive to other people's feelings, and you are always the first to offer a hug, a tissue, or wipe away tears.  A few months ago, Walt hurt himself, and he was very upset.  You grabbed a tissue and dabbed his tears.  "Here, buddy.  It's okay.  Blow."  

You are quite the little mother to Baby Harry, too.  You love to tell me what you think he needs--a bottle, a diaper, a toy, some snuggling, and you're always the first volunteer to do it all.  Sometimes, I wonder how your big heart fits into your tiny body! 

Helping Harry eat some rice cereal

You always want to know what's happening and what we are doing next.  Like your mama, you like knowing the plan, and you agree that the anticipation of an event is half the fun.  

You love little surprises like picnics in the family room, donuts on Daddy's post-call mornings, or unexpected visits to your favorite places.  More than that, you like doing the surprising.  When you hear Daddy come home, you get such a kick out of hiding and either waiting for him to find you or jumping out when you think he least expects it. 

On the days when you take only a catnap, I love our new tradition of "quiet reading time."  You snuggle up right next to me on the couch, and we read our stories next to each other.  

You and Monty are inseparable buddies these days, and I love how much you two love each other.  On the days when you go to preschool or take your nap, your reunions afterward are so precious.  I am so proud of you for teaching anxious Monty how to be a happy dog in our home.  

If you could have it your way, our life would be a musical.  Well, I suppose yours already is because you sing all day about anything and everything!  You pluck away on the piano keys, making up your own songs.  I hear you singing in the bathroom, while you're getting dressed, when you greet Harry in the morning with a lullaby, or when you're dancing around in one of your princess costumes or tutus.  My girl, I love your ZEST for life.

Just a princess bouncing on a trampoline

One of my favorite things about you is how easy it is for you to laugh--especially at yourself.  

Laughing when I pointed out that you had put your pants on backwards.

You have taught me to stop taking myself so seriously and refocus my priorities.  

You are so innocently open to people and experiences, and it's such a joy to watch you take in the world around you.  

Fearless on your first day of preschool

You're so great at expressing how you are processing everything as it happens--what you're hearing, thinking, smelling, feeling, touching, seeing.  I imagine your preschool teacher will tell me and Daddy at conferences that she needs to redirect you back to the task at hand because you are so curious and focused on whatever has your attention.  Don't tell her, but I love your curiosity and intense focus on the task at hand.

One of my favorite parts of being your mama is watching your faith develop.  I love how good you are about asking all of us to join you in prayer.  If you stub your toe, you're the first to say, "Let's pray!  Dear God, please help my toe to feel better.  I love you.  Amen."  Or, you'll ask us to pray for you through tears.  "Mommy, can you please pray for my toe?"  

Advent 2011

One year ago on your birthday, Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation from the papacy.  Can you even imagine the Church without Pope Francis at the helm right now?  I'll think about that moment every year on your birthday.  It taught me that we usually have absolutely no idea what God has in store for us, but we must have faith that they are "plans for good" (Jeremiah 29:11).  

So, my dear, I want you to know that I don't know exactly what God has in store for you, but I know that they are plans for good.  You are such a precious blessing to our family, and I am so proud of the little lady you are becoming.  I am so honored that God entrusted you to our family, Janie Boo.  I pray that you will continue to learn to know, love, and serve Him, and I pray that our domestic church will continue to reveal His Love to you through every member of our family.

  
We love you so much, sweetie!  Happy 4th Birthday!  Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us!  

Love,
Mommy