Saint of Interest

A few weeks ago when I was doing some of my reading, I came across more about St. Margaret of Scotland.  I think I've found a new saint of interest for me in life!  I receive a daily email from Notre Dame and this is what I read.  Pretty good person for me to follow, wouldn't you say?

St. Margaret of Scotland

"St. Margaret was born a princess in Hungary around 1045, and spent much of her youth in the court of her uncle, the English king, Edward the Confessor. Her family fled from William the Conqueror and ended up shipwrecked on the coast of Scotland. King Malcolm of Scotland took them in and was charmed by Margaret. They fell in love and were married in 1070. They had six sons and two daughters—Margaret was an excellent mother. She supervised the education and religious instruction of her children; her youngest son, David, became a saint himself.

Like his nation, Malcolm had a good heart but was rough and uncultured. Margaret gave him good advice, and he came to trust her counsel. She softened his temper and helped him live a virtuous life.

Margaret used her position to promote arts and education in Scotland. She founded several churches with her husband, and began dialogues with the hierarchy about reforming abuses of power in the Church. She loved to make churches beautiful for God’s glory—she even embroidered the priests’ vestments herself.

Despite her many duties in the court and with her family, Margaret was faithful to prayer. She gave up sleep in order to have time for devotions and she often consulted Scripture. During Advent and Lent, she would get up at night in order to attend Mass at midnight every day. On the walk home, she would stop to care for six poor people, washing their feet and giving them money. Poor people sought her out and she never refused them. It is said that she never sat down to eat without first feeding nine orphans and 24 adults.

She died of illness just as she heard that her husband and a son were killed in battle. Her relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica.

St. Margaret of Scotland, who helped her husband grow in virtue and who taught her children to be saints, pray for us!"

Happy Thanksgiving!

What a wonderful holiday we had celebrating in Washington. We filled Grandma Donna and Grandpa Jerry's house with people and probably emptied it of plenty of food. Thanks so much to them for having us! We actually were able to get the whole family together as Uncle Gary and Aunt Lissy and family and Beth and Robert and family were there and we also got to see Uncle Ben. Eighteen people stayed at Grandma and Grandpa's.

We arrived Wednesday evening. Thursday was a beautiful day so we were able to enjoy time at the park before the big evening feast. As usual, Grandma prepared a delicious feast. We tried to help, but she has big family holiday meals worked out like a well oiled machine.

Friday was colder, but we still got to enjoy family time. Friday evening we were able to go to the Parade of Lights in downtown Washington. Cool, but very fun. The kids all really enjoyed it. When we headed back to the house, Patrick made hot chocolate for everyone and we had a little birthday celebration for the babies - Catherine, Sara, and Blaise. Too bad Blaise was a bit under the weather. We missed them!

Saturday we decided to head home. Time to settle back in. Truly another great opportunity to make family memories with the kids and it was great to see them enjoying the visit and the fun with cousins. Pictures to come!

Well, another resurfacing!

Ok, so I'm really going to try and get this thing updated. I have wanted to for so long, but haven't done it. Partly the technical issues with the laptop. But, now that I see I can more easily update with my iPad, maybe my chances are better. I was having trouble posting with it, but am in better shape now. Now the question is, how do I make up for lost time? To I post past stories from here on out or do I adjust the date so they post at the right time period? Thoughts?

Happy Halloween 2012!

School night this year, so not a late night, but definitely a fun night.  I stayed home with Catherine and the rest of the crew hit the streets with Patrick.  They were troopers and had a lot of fun.

What a great name for an outfit...

We were reading one of Leah's little pink girlie books and it was naming things, one of which was a leotard.  Leah stopped her motion, looked up, and asked, "What did they say?...a Leah-tard?"

Anne's Saint Talk

So this is an older story, but still one to capture.  It was in may actually, that the girls and I went to Mass and then were back at church for May Devotion.  Anne often enjoys looking at my prayer cards.  She was looking through them and we were naming the pictures.  She said, "and this is Saint Annie..." And then she said, "Where is St. Mommy?"....if only, but I know I'm far from that accolade!  So sweet of her to say, though!

The little mommy

I so enjoy watching Leah being creative and imaginative when she's at home playing.  These days she's just so much about being a mom and taking care of her babies.  I'm amazed sometimes at all the things I now take note of that she has probably seen me do.  So, it is true..."someone is always watching."

We of course have regular instances of her nursing her babies.  She will sit on the couch with the Boppy and her baby and a blanket over all.  Then she will just sit there a while, peacefully.  Very sweet.

Earlier this summer (although less motherly but still like her mom), I saw in her bag to take to the pool, a toy phone in a ziplock bag.  At first I took a minute to think and then I recalled that in weeks just before that, I had put my cell phone in a ziplock bag to put in my swim bag.  I didn't think she even would have known or noticed I did that, but she did.

Most recently, she was talking more about some day when she hopes to have a baby.  Last night before bedtime, she was asking about how I knew and how the doctor knew that I was going to have a baby.  She told me that someday when she's going to have a baby, that she will call me to tell me "when she's due." I was really surprised at her terminology and everything.  She will either call me or maybe she will "send a message." Then there was even more discussion tonight.  She said that when her baby is ready to be born, that her husband will take her to the hospital (by the way she cried last night because she said she wanted to go with Patrick and I to the hospital when Catherine was born), and then when her baby is born, she will call me to tell me what she had and that she hopes I will come visit her and her baby.  Or, she might send me a message, or she said if she can't call, then her husband will call me.  Such a detailed plan, I couldn't help but relish the moment.

Patrick always talks about those commercials where the girl is driving the car with her dad and she's old enough to drive, but the dad just sees a little girl sitting there talking...he is pretty sure he feels that will be him someday (and he's living it somewhat now with her talk).  She has asked him about whether he will come to her wedding...little does she know that these are all moments of her life that her parents would never miss!

She's a precious little girl, and I'm sure she'll make a great mom when her day comes.