An Evening with our Favorite People

Last night we had our big going-away party, and saw lots of dear people we've known and loved for years. Thanks to everyone for coming out to see us, and thanks to our devoted friends who organized the whole thing. I don't even want to think of how much we'll miss your smiling faces!

Hasta la Vista, Iggy

There's an empty place in our hearts and in our home tonight. Uncle Iggy has gone to a better place. We've given him to a major seminary, where we're sure he'll inspire the men preparing to be priests. But we'll miss his somber presence in the corner of our dining room -- that special touch only a melancholy Spanish mystic can add to a home. Thanks for everything, Uncle Iggy. We'll never forget you. St. Ignatius of Loyola, pray for us!

Custody of Your Eyes

WARNING: One of my dear friends just informed me that she was subjected to a pornography site when she clicked on the "Next Blog" tab at the top of my blog -- thinking it led to another page of my blog.

So, please be careful with navigating. As with everything, the Internet can be used for such good, and such ill.

Conversations with Mr. Jesus

Today I was doing dishes in the kitchen while Boo Boo ate his lunch at the dining room table. He was clutching in one of his hands his Central American cross with Jesus as the Good Shepherd painted on it. Then he said to Jesus on his cross:

Boo Boo: Hello, Mr. Jesus! Are you the Good Shepherd?

In my "Mr. Jesus" voice, I said from the kitchen: Yes, I am. And you are my little lamb.

Boo Boo: Did you have 12 apostles?

"Mr. Jesus": That's right!

Boo Boo: Did you die on the Cross for my sins?

"Mr. Jesus": Yes; I died for you because I love you.

These little dialogues not only lift my heart in gratitude for my beautiful little boy, who knows Jesus, and loves him, and feels comfortable asking him all sorts of questions. But they remind me how easy it should be for all of us to talk to Jesus. We just have to start the conversation.

Good friends, good times

I'm kicking back tonight, recalling what a fun time we all had at our Moms' group going-away picnic last night. Many thanks to our ever-gracious, last-minute hosts, and our beloved friends who shared the evening with us. The highlight (for me anyway) was X-Man and his little friend, eating each others' toes! I hadn't laughed that hard in a long time...

Just getting started...

I awoke to a silent house (Boo Boo and X-Man are going the distance after a late night), so I took these precious few minutes to set up our new blog, Humble Utterings. We will be using it to document our upcoming move from the North Star State to the Lone Star State, and hope it will keep us connected to our friends and family back home.

Please feel free to post and email, so we can keep the conversation going across the U.S.