To Be Continued...

It's early morning, and I'm sneaking one last post before the moving-day scramble begins. We've got just about everything packed, and hope the day goes smoothly. Pray for us!

I wanted to take this last opportunity to thank all of you for reading "Humble Utterings" this last year, whether you are a daily "lurker" -- as one dear friend calls it ;) -- or an occasional reader. It's been a joy to share our lives with you.

I've decided that "Humble Utterings" is the perfect snapshot of our time in Humble, Texas, and it is time for ... drumroll please ... A NEW BLOG!

It's called "The Duty of Delight," and will be a forum for further meditations on faith, family and motherhood -- the duty of delight! I've loaded some of my favorite reflections from last year, plus a listing of my articles for your reference.

So bookmark the site, and please visit as often as you'd like.

May God continue to bless your life abundantly! =)

What Ten Months Can Teach You

Forgive me for waxing nostalgic, but I can't help but look back at our time in Texas with deep satisfaction and gratitude to God -- not only for what we accomplished, but for what I learned.

I learned that I am an adult. I can move with my husband, and take our two children, across the country and live thousands of miles away from most of the people we know and love. I've enjoyed the comfort and security of living in familiar places my whole life, with a wonderful safety net of family and friends. I feel like living in Texas was the first time I really stood on my own two feet and came into my own -- in the vast unknown.

I've learned that the greatest way to conquer fear is by doing exactly what frightens you. This includes flying alone with two boys six times in two months, holding down the fort while your spouse is out of town every month, and even firing a gun. I was quite anxious about doing all of these things. But I did them. Because I wanted to see if I could do it. And it worked out every time, by the grace of God.

I've learned that my marriage -- and my family -- comes first. Before, I was so caught up with our busy, full life in Minnesota that I didn't depend on my husband for friendship enough. In Texas, he was my only close friend for many months, and certainly my best friend the entire time. In those very lonely first few months, I realized that I could be happy anywhere, as long as I had my husband and children with me. I feel closer to all of them now than I ever have before.

I've learned that I can do anything -- even things I can't imagine or foresee -- with the help of the Lord. I have had one of the most humbling ten months of my life, when I was brought to my knees in front of God too many times to count. And it's there, when we are weak, when we are small, when we are truly in docile to him, that he can actually do something for us. When we finally ask for help he can show us he listens, he cares and he's unlimited in capacity to change us and our circumstances.

I've learned -- firsthand -- that God cannot fill us and make us who he wants us to be until we are empty. Detached of everything safe, familiar and known. Everything we want for ourselves or think would make us happy. When these things are gone, he has room to do the work he intends for us. He's just been waiting for the invitation.

And I've learned to be thankful for hard times. That may sound crazy, but it's one of the most important things I've realized in these months -- and in my entire life. I am so grateful that in the midst of strife, even when I'm still stinging, the thought finally occurs to me that there must be some good to come of this. We may not see the redemption of our suffering immediately or even in our lifetime. But every stumbling block we face with faith and understanding brings us closer to God and paves our path to heaven. And that's what we're all here to learn, isn't it?

Ode to Texas

Six more days. That's how long we have left in Texas. In a week, the boys and I will be back in Minnesota, and Dear Husband will be enjoying the hospitality of the Clear Creek Monks in Oklahoma for a day of prayer and rest.

Over the last few days, Dear Husband and I keep saying to each other, "Can you believe we're moving in a few days? I can't believe we're leaving Texas!"

Because, of course, we're happy to be going back to Minnesota for some reasons ... but we will certainly miss Texas for other reasons.

And so follows our ode to Texas, and everything we've loved here:

* Our Texan relatives, especially Cousin K -- the daughter of my cousin, who lives nearby. Boo Boo often announces to us, "Someday, I am going to marry K." He doesn't seem concerned that it's against the law...

* Miss Dani -- Our beloved babysitter, who was literally an answer to my desperate prayers. Where else can you find a 19-year-old who works in the parish childcare center, was homeschooled and wears an archdiocesan T-shirt every time we see her?! She even got Boo Boo to start saying, "Yes, ma'am" by treating me with such respect in front of him. When Boo Boo said good-bye to her, he almost cried; and I almost cried along with him!

* Mockingbirds, brown pelicans, confederate star jasmine, cypress trees growing out of swamps and signs warning about alligators living in our neighbhood's "lakes."

* All of the different, slower "fast" food, especially Sonic, Whataburger and Chick-fil-A. And all of the Tex-Mex flavor and smoky barbecue smells.

* Monstrous superhighways, six lanes wide, both ways, with HOV/carpool lanes and feeder/frontage roads, too. Criss-crossing, soaring high in the air. Infrastructure, glorious infrastructure!

* Our incomparable parish, Our Lady of Walsingham, with its charming, Australian-born priest (who has a twin brother priest to boot!), beautiful, fruitful families, and an Anglican-rite liturgy that is heavenly.

* My Familia group and the Our Lady of Perpetual Help bible study: full of faithful, fun moms with oodles of adorable children. Another major answer to prayer and further evidence of God's perfect provision in my life!

* Dear Husband's colleagues -- all of their different gifts and personalities made for a wonderfully complimentary group, and a happy work environment for DH.

* Our new, carpeted, roomy rental home -- with fenced in backyard, neighborhood parks, pools and splash pad, and free fitness room, trash, internet, cable and alarm system. (Yes, it HURTS us to leave all that!)

There are many other things, and many other people, who helped make this place feel like home -- even for ten months. We'll always be Minnesotans ... but perhaps a small part of us may still remain a little bit Texan.

One Last Time

Here's Boo Boo, running to the shrine of our church's patroness, Our Lady of Walsingham... one last time. =(

Boys of Summer

Early yesterday morning we packed up everything but the kitchen sink and headed for the Gulf again to welcome the beginning of summer. We knew we wanted Dear Husband to enjoy the beach, but didn't want to deal with the inevitable Memorial Day mob. We got there by 9:30am and the place was already pretty full.

Boo Boo decided that he was now afraid of the water and spent most of his time in the sand.

X-Man, on the other hand, wanted to spend all his time with in Gulf. When he was on land, he'd sign "Go" and "Water." LOL! We took turns carrying him and wading out to our waists so he could experience the really big waves -- and he just loved them! Many people had to laugh and smile at his chuckling.
On the drive home, we were happy that no one had gotten burned, and that we had missed the traffic jam then slowly creeping toward the Gulf.

Gratuitously Cute Photos of the Week

X-Man, intrigued with a friend's beautiful baby girl. Love that he's climbing on the stroller, standing on tiptoes! =)

Joyful News!

I just got a call from Dear Husband, informing me that we have a new niece! Our sister-in-law gave birth at 2:20am to a 5lb, 5oz little girl in a birthing tub -- how cool! I hear she has lots of hair. We can't wait to see her when we return home.

(She is our first niece and the first Minnesota cousin.)

Thanks be to God for a safe birth and healthy child! May the Lord bless them all abundantly!

Beach Clips

Enjoy these videos of the boys, enjoying the Gulf! =)

Delightful Day

We wanted to be sure to get back to the beach before we moved, so we headed there today with friends. First, we stopped at a beautiful old church -- Mary, star of the sea, pray for us!

Then we hit the beach. I was surprised how much time Boo Boo wanted to play in the sand.

And I couldn't believe that X-Man was comfortable walking into the Gulf alone! (He's got me on a pretty short leash these days.)


I walked in holding onto both of their hands and was rewarded with some hearty belly laughs from X. He loved the waves hitting his tummy!


Afterward, we stopped at Sonic to take advantage of "happy hour," which made us quite, well, happy!