BB and Poppy hosted the children this weekend so Marc and I could have a staycation for our anniversary. We were able to get a TON of work and organizing done around the house (i.e. nesting) while the children had a ball at the farm. Saturday night after mass they had supper, road bikes and watched a few episodes of Rick Steve's Europe, which we've all enjoyed a lot lately. :)
As always, they want to sleep in the same room- even though there are plenty of other places to sleep. BB keeps great books in their room and they read a lot while they are there. Marky read The Lord of the Flies in one sitting.
The next morning they enjoyed washing Poppy's truck-
And they love riding bikes and the gator!
They loved picking radishes, and Tucker and Charlie ate them-
Charlie loaded his gator with the harvest and washed the veggies thoroughly. Good little farm workers-
Marc and Sissy road the 4-wheeler-
And it's finally blueberry season- they picked a lot of blueberries. They will be ripening these next two weeks, and it will take a lot of work to pick them all-
After all that farm work it was a treat to swim!
And have lunch outside-
Everyone loves riding in the paddleboat and canoe- although I hear Charlie got tired. :)
After boating they played games and enjoyed the playroom-
After supper they made s'mores in the outdoor fireplace-
BB said she had recorded some Roy Rogers and The Flying Nun episodes and the children really enjoyed them. Such a fun time on the happiest farm! Thank you BB and Poppy!
If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were loved by wife, then thee.
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me, ye women, if you can.
I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold,
Or all the riches that the East doth hold. My love is such that rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee give recompense.
Thy love is such I can no way repay;
The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.
Then while we live, in love let’s so persevere,
That when we live no more, we may live ever.
I just finished watching/reading Middlemarch by George Eliot. I enjoyed it very much, but I especially loved the last chapter of the book. One of the heroines, who through the novel has big dreams of social change, abandons her plans to follow the husband she loves. It is seen as a waste by some as she had true gifts of strength, intelligence and fortitude. But Eliot says,
Many who knew her, thought it a pity that so
substantive and rare a creature should have been absorbed into the life
of another, and be only known in a certain circle as a wife and mother.
…..
Her finely touched spirit had still its fine issues, though they were
not widely visible. Her full nature, like that river of which Cyrus
broke the strength, spent itself in channels which had no great name on
the earth. But the effect of her being on those around her was
incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly
dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you
and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived
faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.
I just loved that last paragraph- especially the acknowledgement that we all have better lives because of people who lived faithful, hidden lives. Here's to the invisible mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and neighbors who made our lives beautiful. May we honor them, may we be them.
On Sunday night the boys sang, "How Can I Keep from Singing?" and I cannot get it out of my head. It reminds me of these past six years and all the hard times that came with losing babies over and over again. That sorrow will always be with me, under the surface. I do fine day to day, even month to month, but every once in a while something triggers it and I fall apart.
And I thank God that He is Love. He is Lord. He loves those babies more than I do, and I can trust Him with their eternal care. I am so beside myself with joy over our baby girl on the way, but I will never, ever forget the five babies whose five heartbeats I heard, all of whom I saw move, some of whom I held and counted their fingers and toes.
My life goes on in endless song Above earth's lamentations, I hear the real, though far-off hymn That hails a new creation.
Through all the tumult and the strife I hear it's music ringing, It sounds an echo in my soul. How can I keep from singing?
While though the tempest loudly roars, I hear the truth, it liveth. And though the darkness 'round me close, Songs in the night it giveth.
No storm can shake my inmost calm, While to that rock I'm clinging. Since love is lord of heaven and earth How can I keep from singing?
When tyrants tremble sick with fear And hear their death knell ringing, When friends rejoice both far and near How can I keep from singing?
No storm can shake my inmost calm, While to that rock I'm clinging. Since love is Lord of heaven and earth How can I keep from singing?
We drove home from the beach on Friday and immediately unpacked the car, got dressed up and headed to Marc and Julia's piano recital!
So proud of the progress these two have made- they both play BEAUTIFULLY!
On Saturday morning the boys had their final boys choir rehearsal for the year-
That night we had wonderful BBQ at some friends' house. On Sunday morning it was time for the Doctrine Bowl at church. Every class was broken into teams and had to answer catechism questions- it was so much fun. All our babies did very well- we were proud! Charlie's team won- he's in the back.
Tucker answered most of his team's questions- and he did a celebratory dance for every point. :) Julia knew most of the answers for her team too!
The 7th and 8th grade teams were tied- they had a lot of hard questions and trick questions, but they didn't get slipped up.
The tie breaker was, "What 3rd and 4th century heresy denied the divinity of Christ?" Marky raised his hand first and said "the Arian heresy" and won for his team!
Such a fun time- all the parents enjoyed it too. Sunday was the feast of Pentecost- the official end of Easter Season when we celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit and birthday of the Church. It was the most beautiful Mass-
There is an ancient tradition at the Pantheon in Rome where they drop rose petals down from the ceiling on the Feast of Pentecost. It's supposed to represent the Holy Spirit coming down-
Well our pastor has institute the tradition at our Cathedral! It was AMAZING- so beautiful and touching. As we sang "Come Holy Ghost, Creator Blest" the roses fell from the top of the Cathedral arches-
Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest,
And in our hearts take up thy rest;
Come with thy grace and heav'nly aid
To fill the hearts which thou hast made,
To fill the hearts which thou hast made.
O Comforter, to thee we cry,
Thou heav'nly gift of God most high,
Thou fount of life, and fire of love,
And sweet anointing from above,
And sweet anointing from above.
O Holy Ghost, through thee alone,
Know we the Father and the Son;
Be this our firm unchanging creed,
That thou dost from them both proceed,
That thou dost from them both proceed.
Praise we the Lord, Father and Son,
And Holy Spirit with them one;
And may the Son on us bestow
All gifts that from the Spirit flow,
All gifts that from the Spirit flow.
And after Mass the children were just ecstatic. And I mainly mean Tucker- who was literally losing his mind with excitement. :)
I apologized to Father for Tucker making "snow angels" in the petals, but he said he's seen videos from the Pantheon where the children do it there too- it's a natural response of joy!
Sunday afternoon Tucker and Marc sang in the Birmingham Boys Choir concert. They did a beautiful job! It's amazing what 160 boys can do when they have a great leader and teacher-
Tucker was front and center and easy to find with his curls. The boys earn a blue medal for completing their first year of theory classes- they are tested for reading music well.
Marc is on the aisle wearing a red medal for being a section leader-
The National Anthem-
Marc is also a Chamber Chorister- the ensemble within the choir that sings more songs and has additional concerts-
The 8th graders technically "graduate" from the boys choir and become "Graduate Choristers", i.e. their voices change and they can't sing soprano anymore. :) Marc has sung in this choir for six years!
This is the large group of 22 graduating 8th graders-
So proud of our boys! And who thinks BB, Julia and I have the same eyes and cheeks? :)
Such a wonderful weekend full of music and beauty!
Welcome to my blog! I am Donna- wife to precious Marc, full-time mother to five angels here- Marc, age 18, Julia, age 16, Tucker, age 14, Charles, age 11, Anastasia, age 4, and five babies in heaven. Deus nos conjunxit is Latin for "God Joined Us" and is inscribed on my husband's wedding band. Thank you, Lord, for joining us together and shepherding us home.
