The Great Sponge Roller Rite of Passage.

Tonight, Mary Beth and I embarked on one of my favorite pastimes as a young girl: the rolling of wet hair overnight in sponge rollers. Hopefully her wet hair will dry by morning and she'll have the Cinderella tresses she desires. But past experience is telling me, especially since she inherited my baby fine hair that has no body, that her hair will not dry and if it does the curls will look something out of a Medusa look-alike contest as opposed to a Disney Princess. We shall see.





ETA: I was right. Medusa it was. But she loved her "cullz" and sported them anyway!

Ragin Cajun ad in today's paper!

The kids were so excited. Dad was probably more fired up than them! It was cute.

I hear they're in commercials too, but I haven't caught one yet.

I've had a string of the most random incidents lately.

First, two Mondays ago I woke up to 15 missed calls on my cell phone. Like any normal individual, I immediately thought something had happened to someone in my family and wondered why no one called at home (cell was in the car). But then I noticed that I didn't recognize the number. My phone indicated that I had three voice mails so I decided to give a listen.

What I heard was nothing short of hysterical. I've transferred the audio to youtube, but I must warn you ... it's not work safe or kid safe. This woman, who was obviously extremely upset (or drove -- her word) with her significant other, dropped the F bomb throughout the three messages.



The second random act consisted of my neighbors mistakenly thinking my yard was the drop zone for their dead Christmas trees. I woke up one morning to one in the yard and the next day there were a couple more ... and finally a total of six.



I reluctantly stapled a sign to one of them, fearing the worst -- that it might incite others to deposit their dead trees as well. And this may have been over-the-top hilarious if we weren't trying to sell our house, but it was only kind of funny instead. Luckily, the sign worked and the trees were actually picked up a couple of days thereafter.

I was asked to write a reflection for a Lenten booklet.

This Liturgical year has been declared the year of Sts. Peter and Paul and the Lenten Reflection Booklet put out by Our Lady of Wisdom is using verses from St. Paul's epistles. I was asked to choose a verse and write a reflection and it wasn't an easy task.

It had been hanging over my head for a while and one night as I was watching a television show, the verse I chose was quoted by one of the show's characters and expounded upon. I loved it and took it as my sign that this is what I was supposed to write about.

So after some prayer and pondering on the subject, this is my submission.

Holiness

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

- Galatians 3:28

Along my spiritual journey, I seem to repeatedly come face-to-face with the fear that I’m not holy enough. Whether from observing other families at Mass or hearing friends casually mention God in conversation, I have often felt my mind’s eye turn inward to make judgment on my soul.

This "holiness" introspection doesn’t reference a specific incident. It’s not at all like reflecting on my behavior when I’m impatient with my kids or, better yet, judgmental of a mother who lost her cool in the middle of the grocery store. No, it’s more like swinging at the carnival strength meter with the sledgehammer and not being strong enough to ring the bell.

But is there even such a thing as a holiness meter? Does this meter register "not worthy" when I take a swing at it? St. Paul calls out to me in this verse, telling me that in the eyes of the Lord, we’re all the same--each made in God’s image and likeness. It matters not what we may think of one another (or even ourselves!); God loves each of us the same and we are each granted equal access to Him.

This Lenten season, I vow to stop wondering if I "measure up" and instead ponder more important questions: Do I speak to my children often enough about the Gospel after Mass? Is God as much of a part of my family life as He should be? Do my children see Jesus through me? I reflect on this with the intention of deepening my relationship with the Lord and accepting and loving myself just as I am, just as our loving Father made me.

Faithful and Loving Father, keep me mindful of your blessed love for me especially when I am in doubt.

~Megan Perkins

Our Lady of Wisdom Parishioner

And we have a showing!!

Our ninth one. And Ms. Penny told me when we were signing the initial contract to list that the average is that for every nine showings you get one offer.

Here's hoping! Come through, St. Joe!

Miss Penny says I'm "brilliant".

I wouldn't go that far, but I do think what we've thought of is a good way to entice a new round of buyers ... paying the buyer's closing costs up to $5,000.

Please, God, let this bring the right family for our home!

P.S. Eleanor woke up sans fever (went to bed with 102.5) and hasn't had any rise all day. We've gotten several smiles and even a couple of "ahhhhs" (her way of getting our attention). God is good.
P.P.S. Jason's heading home tonight and I could not be MORE EXCITED.

Eleanor is still sick. Jason's doing better.

RSV test was negative at the pediatrician. We're in wait and see mode ... if she's still running fever on Thursday we'll go in for bloodwork and a chest x-ray.

I've seen her smile twice in two days. Hardly heard a peep from her except for whimpering and a few cries. I'm ready to have my happy baby back. (Since I started typing this she flashed me a smile and her fever's down to 100.4 so yay!)

We're waffling on the renting as it's just about the best time to buy in history. Dad called today to talk to me about it. His concern was that we're making decisions based on emotion (and exhaustion) which is true and that perhaps it's not the wisest move financially. I think he's right.

I called a housekeeper to come and give me a bid. That will alleviate some of the pressure I'm feeling. At least the deep cleaning would be done. She's coming by on Thursday so I look forward to that.

Eleanor is sick. So is Jason. I'm having a pity party.

Her fever was up to 103 last night and at some point during the night I'm certain it was higher (tho I didn't check) because her mouth was so hot it was physically painful to nurse her. Her breathing is starting to become a little labored and RSV is rampant in town right now. Missy, Elisabeth and Alicia all have babies with it and Carolina was in the hospital for three days because of it.

The good news is that she's nursing. The bad news is that she can't sleep. She just whimpers. It's very sad. The other bad news is that Jason, who we went to visit this weekend in Houston, just got diagnosed with bronchialitis/pneumonia yesterday.

We were already scheduled for her four month appt this morning so we're going in. Actually all four kids are scheduled this morning -- the older three to get their first Hep A vax (mandatory in TX). So I'm relatively certain I'll be leaving the ped's office with four miserable children.

What I'm praying for is that I'm not leaving the ped's office to go to the hospital with the baby. Please, God, let her be okay. And let us fight off this illness at home.

Ruth's has agreed to pay part of our rent for the next three months so I think we're going to go ahead and rent in Richmond, which is just south of the Westpark in Katy. We'll be close enough to Kane and Nicole, but far enough that the rent is a bit more palatable ($1500 a month; eek; and that's good!). Schools are rated highly in the neighborhood we're looking at so that's good. And then in 12-18 months, we'll go ahead and buy ... likely in Cinco Ranch.

I feel peaceful about the decision but sad at the same time. I just thought this process would go more smoothly. And I really hate the idea of renting (and MOVING AGAIN). But we'll get it done. I have to believe that there's a greater plan in all of this and there's a reason for it all ...