Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Still uh-live

Don't worry, guys. Don't wu-ray.

I'm still here.

Too bad for you.

I'll give you a run down of the recent haps since I like to offer all kinds of information that hasn't been asked for and may or may not be wanted.

Last Saturday-Monday, I got to go on an incredible (silent!ish*) retreat. I went last year for the first time and it was pretty life-changing. I think retreats are one of those things that you don't know you need until you're there, and then you're there and you cannot believe you didn't think you needed it because you do. Last year, I was pregnant with Peter and this year he was my roomie. It was bit harder to sink deeply into silent retreat mode with a six month old on my hip but the exchange was time alone with my baby for over 48 hours and that was the best. Aside from spiritual renewal, hours and hours to pray and think and reassess my life, receive the Sacraments and spiritual direction, make resolutions and spend time in quiet contemplation, I was able to soak in the gorgeous hills around the college where we stayed, hike in said hills, and lay in the grass in the sunshine with absolutely nothing else to do. It was all very, very the best.





Peter and I shared a room with one of my closest soul sisters, Hope. She is pregnant with her 7th baby, so our time together is usually peppered with lots of little voices and requests and distractions. It was so fun to fake like we were in college together. At night we would sneak out on a sleeping Peter and wander the grounds in the dark and talk and laugh and contemplate life. I think Peter and Hope bonded due to him being the only child between us when he is typically one of 11. They also bonded over the fact that both of their lives were threatened on an evening walk encounter with a mountain lion. Don't worry, the mountain lion didn't see them and just sauntered off but, still, THE SCARIEST and thank you, Jesus. Anyway, you are getting the picture, right? It was awesome. Dangerous and awesome.


Y



On top of all that, the cherry of all cherries, I found a super cute vintage couch next to the dumpsters at the college and managed to talk two college bros into tossing it on top of my car for me. Guys, I cannot stress enough the joy that finding (free) junk brings me! I don't know if you remember, but our couch has two busted legs and is currently supported by Moby Dick and Jane Eyre (Seriously. They are the thickest books we own.) ... so a new, free, non-broken, vintage situation was like delicious manna from heaven for this little retreat-goer.

You might also remember how I said I sometimes have to just spring home improvements/redesign/furniture on Kirby. Well, this couch was no exception. I roped it up and dragged it home and the whole family welcomed both a spiritually rejuvenated me and an old, yellow, tufted couch. Here it is, pre-oxy scrub. Cutest, right? I'm thinking a someday reupholster, but for now, a few throw pillows and perfect.



Being on a retreat for the second time in as many years made me realize a. How grateful I am for Kirby and b. how much mothers-going-on-retreats seems almost completely contingent on husbands. I never think I can leave for days at a time, and I hardly think I need things like retreats and sometimes I don't even want them. If it weren't for Kirby practically pushing me out the door with a smile on his face and an I got this all handled, lady on his lips, I would probably never, ever go, ever. I'm so grateful he pushes me towards what is good for my soul. Husbands- do this for your wives. Tell them you are taking care of it and shove.them.out. It is highly recommended.

We have more busy days ahead including Hero's First Holy Communion on Saturday (I am so excited. Will you pray for her?), an Irish Dance recital on the very same Saturday, and a refi which is bringing with it mounds of papers to scan, sign, scan, send and a plethora of home improvements which we have been putting off for as many years as we have lived in this sweet little house. Said home improvements have us running out to Ikea 30 minutes before closing and jetting to Lowes for exactly 43 1x4's in between breakfast and lunch with all five in tow and no husbands plus one brave grandmother. Not speaking from experience, of course, that's just what I've heard. The good news is that the bathroom that's always been a storage closet will now be a bathroom and our spider-webby oven vent that's been agape for 4 whole years will now have a grate over it.

******drunk in luv (w/ ikea)********

What else... (Cause this ramble could not possibly be complete)... OH YEAH!

I made an official Facebook page for this blawg. Come, like!




20 comments:

  1. I've been wanting to go on a silent retreat since my mother-in-law went to one out here when she was visiting us. She took a few months old baby, too :) Anyway, it sounds perfect!! Someday, someday.

    And BOY that couch is a find. Jeal.

    Praying for Hero! I teared up thinking about how wonderful it will be for you and Kirby to see your firstborn receive the Eucharist, and of course, how wonderful it is for Hero.

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    1. It's the best!! You've gotta go sometime... And you are so sweet thinking about Hero. I am totally overwhelmed by the entire thing. I can't wait! Ps when will you be in SD again?

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  2. What a score on that couch! Makes me want to go thrift hunting.

    I'll be thinking about Hero on her big day! (And such an awesome name, by the way.)

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  3. That couch, pre OxyClean, looks cleaner than the couch I am sitting on right now!

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    1. Ha!! It's cleaner than my current couch, too.

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  4. I recognized the beautiful campus- did you happen to meet Fr Buckley?? He is just wonderful!!!

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    1. I saw Fr Buckley but we weren't introduced... I've heard so many wonderful things about him! Did you go to TAC??

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    2. No, I didn't go there- my now husband and i went to visit Fr Budkley there once- before we were married my husband was in the seminary here in Denver and Fr Buckley did spiritual direction for him on his 30 day silent retreat! I later got to meet him at TAC and he came to CO got our wedding- our dear friend Fr Joe Dygert did attend at TAC and loved it!!!! Love reading your blog!!

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  5. I'm so glad you had a great retreat. I totally should have gone. Lulu would have been an angel. When we were signing up I just kept thinking of six month old FRANKIE on a silent retreat.

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    1. She would have been great! And, of course, well loved by all the sweet retreat ladies! Missed you.

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  6. TAC is such a beautiful, tranquil place -except for the mountain lions and snakes! How nice to go on retreat there. Prayers all this week for Hero and your whole family on her special day from both my daughter and me!

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  7. Blythe, that sounds like an amazing retreat -- I've been wanting to do this http://www.myfranciscan.org/facilities/hermitage/ but really want to do a more structured retreat first, since I haven't done one since my high school Eucharistic retreats.

    Do you mind sharing who the retreat was through?

    Love the couch, also -- my too-expensive CB2 couch broke a beam last night and I am wishing furniture was made more solidly these days...

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    1. Ugh! So sad about the couch!! And the retreat was through Opus Dei. It was fantastic!

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    2. Ooh thanks for the tip! I really need to pay them a visit here -- I've never done any of their programs. Luckily that's where Jennifer Fulwiler's book tour is stopping here!

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  8. That photo of Hope with Peter is the.best.photo.ever. I'm love with it.
    So glad we got to spend time at TAC for the kiddie soccer practices they host there 1x/week before we left. That place is beyond idyllic; almost hard to believe it's actually nestled in up there.
    Hero's communion! That's a big deal. I will be so interested to hear your take on it as a formerly-Prostestant-mom who didn't have anything like that (except maybe AWANA end-of-year-book-earning-ceremonies, which is exactly nothing like first communion, I'm sure) in your own childhood...

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  9. Oh TAC, my alma mater. Well kinda...didn't graduate but did find a husband there!

    I hear their retreats are good, which priest directed yours? Glad you got some peace. It's funny, I've really been considering something like this. Or spiritual direction at the very least.

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  10. Jessie- It was actually an Opus Dei retreat but the priest than ran it was Fr Paul Donlan who runs the Evening of Recollection at St Pascals soooooo..... the next one if Monday! hint hinty. And no way did you go to TAC! Funny!

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  11. Written before asking for prayer, asking again. For love of truth and for faith; for gladness to belong to Jesus. For freedom from pride and shame.
    Kathryn

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