so, THIS is what happens when I go to bunko...

spider man tatoo
Originally uploaded by laurengulde

Last night I went to bunko. I came home, everyone was in bed, the kitchen was clean... perfecto! This morning, everyone went off to school and work and I got Katherine up for her breakfast. I got her out of her jammies, and looked down to see a spider man tattoo (temporary, I assume) on her leg!!!! Just lovely. My little sweet girly-girl with a spider man tattoo. I wonder what will happen next month...

The Batt on Lent... suprisingly good!

The Texas A&M paper wrote a great article on Lent!

Children's Examination of Conscience

My friend Dana let me know about this great examination of conscience for children, based on the Our Father. Since Emelie is preparing for her first confession (in under 2 weeks... yikes) and communion on April 20th, we have been reading this during our Lenten night prayers. But, I think even younger children could get a lot out of it! Oh, and yes, even grown-ups!! Thanks Dana!

An Examination of Conscience for Children using The Lord’s Prayer.

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy name.

• Do I think about God every day?
• Do I say my prayers?
• Do I pay attention and participate at Mass?

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

• Am I kind to others?
• Do I do what Jesus wants me to do?
• Do I share with others?
• Am I helpful to my family?
• Do I show respect to my teachers and classmates?

Give us this day our daily bread

• Do I remember to say thank you?
• Am I sometimes greedy?
• Do I appreciate the good things I have in my life?
• Do I think of ways to help those who have no food?
• Do I take things that don't belong to me?

Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

• Do I say I’m sorry when I have been wrong?
• Do I forgive and forget when someone does something bad to me?
• Do I help solve problems between my friends or do I cause more trouble?
• Do I say bad things about people who have hurt me?

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil

• Do I play fairly in sports and games?
• Do I cheat in school?
• Do I tell the truth?
• Do I set a good example by my kindness?
• Do I let other kids tempt me to do things I know I shouldn't do?

what kids can do on a beautiful saturday...

playing outside
Originally uploaded by laurengulde

Emelie is helping Jonathan build his workshop in the backyard, which entails banging sticks into the ground to make a wall around the tree, hanging random stuff (old flower pots and rope) from the branches. then digging holes to catch spiders. Oh and digging for dinosaur bones. That's what they are doing here. Emelie is wearing a giant pink sunhat that she got when she turned 5. She thinks she looks quite beautiful in it!

don't you wish you were little again...

don't you wish you were little again...
Originally uploaded by laurengulde

Watching a movie in a laundry basket... how nice. At least we have enough for everyone. I did have to dump out some laundry in order to accommodate everyone.

Super Tuesday...

I just read this fantastic article by Fr. Jonathan Morris and was completely inspired! Titled "Virtue of Contemplation on Super Tuesday", he helps us put into perspective what all this political chaos is really about. Regardless of who you are "for" or "against", I think Fr. Jonathan (isn't that a great name!) helps us to refocus on the true purpose of politics....

Here's a quote from the article, just to make you read more on his site:

"Contemplation and politics are not mutually exclusive. In fact, the contemplative man or woman is usually the most interested in social wellbeing and the most engaged in its pursuit. He sees politics as a means to prepare the human soul for more important activity (like loving and being loved), instead of as an end in and of itself. He sees the politician as a man or a woman called to collaborate in the ordering of society for the good of the human person, such that every citizen, buoyed first by the family and then by community organizations, may pursue and achieve his natural and supernatural ends." Fr. Jonathan Morris, "Virtue of Contemplation on Super Tuesday"

sweetness

February 4, 2008 015
Originally uploaded by laurengulde

Curt and Emelie are something else. Since the nurses were cleaning her up in the incubator and she clung to her Daddy's finger, till this morning when she curled up around him while he was on his laptop - they're pretty much inseparable. Makes a mom happy!

Books for Lent

So here's my list. These aren't only "Lenten books" but rather books that Curt and I think help us want to be holy... and that's what Lent is all about!

So here they are, in no particular order:

Called to Holiness by Ralph Martin
Prayer and Temperament: Different Prayer Forms for Different Personality Types by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisy
The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton
No Man is an Island by Thomas Merton
Love is Stronger than Death by Peter Kreeft
The Better Part: A Christ-Centered Resource for Personal Prayer by John Bartunek
Characters of the Passion by Fulton Sheen
The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Heaven by Peter Kreeft
Journey Toward Easter by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger/Pope Benedict XVI
Collected Words of St. John of the Cross
If Your Mind Wanders at Mass by Thomas Howard
In Conversation with God Vol. 2 - Lent and Eastertide by Francis Fernandez

If you have any suggestions of your own, please include them in comments!!