Rite of Election

This is my first blog about my conversion to Catholicism. After many years of prayer and counsel by both Catholics and Non-Catholics, I have actually decided to convert. Last night I experienced the Rite of Election. It is a ceremony held by the Catholic Church to accept into it new members. Everyone in the area is called by name and introduced to the Bishop. They stand up, walk up to the altar, sign their name in a book and personally meet the bishop. It is a beautiful ceremony and very rich in biblical meaning:

Isaiah 40:26 "Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing."

John 10:3, 14 (The Shepherd and His Flock) "The watchmen opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out...I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me..."

Because I have already been baptized in the Catholic church, I didn't not actually sign the book and meet the bishop. My name was called, though, and I stood before the others accepting the call to conversion. I couldn't help but get choked up as I watched the others who haven't yet been baptized walk up to that altar and sign their name. So many people from different walks of life making a decision to seek God. To make Him their shepherd. To know His voice.

Fire-Station Birthday Party

For Luke's 3rd birthday party we toured the local fire station. It was so cool and the firemen were so welcoming and nice.

This is station 22 also know as Double Deuce.


The kids got to drive the truck!

One fireman put on all his gear (in less than 4 minutes!). He wanted to show the kids what they look like when they are all geared up so that they would know not to be afraid if they were ever to see him in an emergency.

The captive audience.

Six new recruits!

Then on to Lucky 13 for pizza and birthday cake!

Happy Birthday Luke!

Happy Birthday Luke!

Luke: one day


One Year


2-years-old


Three!


This time three years ago I was pacing the halls of the Goldsboro (Wayne County) hospital waiting for my baby. He was born at 3:20 a.m. and after some brief cuddle time and a little practice at nursing they whisked him away until 8:30. That was the longest five hours of my life. But this post is not meant to dwell on ancient and barbaric post-partum practices. This is about where we are today after three of the best years of my life!

So, let me tell you about Luke. To start, one of my favorite traits about him is his smile. He smiles with his whole face! It is the biggest, most wonderful smile. By the same token when he cries, he cries with his whole face. It is pitiful! His big brown eyes filled with tears, mouth turned down and quivering, cheeks red. It makes it very hard to discipline him. And he does not like to be told "no." Lately after being told "no" (usually to candy or cookies) he will either reply with, "Awwww, come on! You've got to be kidding me!" which is spoken in kind of a fun tone. Or he will angrily yell "MOMMY! DON'T SAY THAT TO ME!" It all depends on his mood, which response I will get. But for the most part, he is the happiest, most content little boy.

Luke is potty trained now. It is was all about just taking away the diapers. He would still prefer to wear them as I think he doesn't really like to wash his hands after going potty. Whenever he washes his hands he sings his ABC's. Luke can count but I don't know how high, somewhere in the teens it goes a little hay-wire. Just last week he decided he wanted to play hide-and-seek with just me. Usually he has a big brother leading the way. He insisted on counting first. I hid in the kitchen curtains and patiently waited as he counted to 20. He was in the pantry (our counting place) for a long time. He'd almost get there and then skip twenty, go to twenty-four, twenty-five, etc...then back down to 11 and almost to 20 again only to jump to forty. I finally had to call out, "okay, sweetie, say 'ready or not, here I come!'"

Luke's best friend is Hank. I can get him to go anywhere and do anything if it means he'll get to see Hank. Luke's hero is his older brother! As for me and Nick, he'll choose the one of us that isn't pursuing him. If I try to give him a bath, then he wants Dad to do it. If Nick wants to hold his hand, he goes for mine (if Jay isn't around). Luke's favorite toys are guns (ugh, it must be an ingrained boy thing) and cars. His favorite food is anything sweet...cookies or candy. He will, however, settle for berries and fruit. Vegetables? Forget it! When he gets the priviledge of a treat he doesn't sit and savor the moment, he shoves the goodies down his throat, eating as much and as quickly as possible. Luke's favorite television show is Sesame Street with his favorite segment being, "Abby's Flying Fairy School" which may some day be a source of embarrasment for him, particularly since it is now written out. Luke is presently in swimming lessons and this is where I really see his desire to please. He will do anything the teacher tells him to do, even when he is clearly scared, and always with a big smile on his face. That's my Luke!

Happy 3rd Birthday Sweet Boy!

No Snow in Boise

But, we do have sunshine and some warmer temps so Luke gets to try out his new, blue, big-boy bike outside as Jay returns to his ripstick.

Let it snow! Please?!?!?!

People are getting snowed in all around us. My sister, Katherine, wore her pajamas inside out and backwards and the very next day, in Nasheville TN, there was 4 inches of snow! My friends in Germany and Belgium are reporting on Facebook that they are snowed in. Snow Snow SNOW! How come up here in the northern part of the U.S. there isn't any? Jay desperately wants a snow day. I told him about Aunt Katherine's method and you know he was totally up for that! I decided to join him. Here we are in our pajamas, inside out and backwards. You can see the hope in his eyes. This was the first night I didn't have to ask him to get ready for bed.


It didn't work. No snow. Not a trace. Sorry Kid. (You can blame it on Aunt Katherine. She took our snow.)

Handprints on the Window

Every morning I wake to find our kitchen window covered in condensation. Some mornings, when it is really cold outside, that condensation is a sheet of thin ice. But one morning I found this.

Jay goes back to preschool...

Jay has been begging me to bring me to Luke's Mom & Tots class. Unfortunately Luke's class is held during Jay's class. Of course, Jay has asked to skip school so he can join us..."just one time!" My answer: "no." As luck would have it Jay's school had a teacher workday that fell on Monday and so he got to return to his old preschool and help Luke in Mom & Tots. Since I had a little more freedom, I brought my camera.

Luke went right to business. Painting...


and hammering...


and splashing...


I love this photo of Jay playing with Luke in the water table. He is such a sweet kid!

Luke was so proud to have his big brother by his side during circle time.

And Jay is way more fun than me on the playground!!!

But way too big for that car!