Splendid day

I have no time to elaborate because there are other issues at hand but, wow, I have to just put these pictures here so I can look back on some future bad day and remember all the gifts of today.

We are blessed.

Ohio, Kentucky... nuns, nuns and baseball (Part Two)

After beginning our day in such a blessed manner, we headed out. We always start our day in the car with a family rosary (except for special occasions...there will be one in a few posts) so, having that finished, the kids watched something kid-like (I think Shawn the Sheep...it makes Mr. G belly laugh and that always helps the miles pass quickly). While they were otherwise occupied, I was able to spend hours talking to my beloved. That is one of my very favorite perks of a pilgrimage...catching up with one another.

Our first stop (and first Holy Door!) was in Cincinnati, at the Monastery of St. Clare. I knew, as soon as I saw the listing, we needed to make the trip. Traveling with our own little Clare, it always pulls her into the discussion in a most pleasing way.

When we drove through the woods to our destination it was one of those "wow, I need to come here on retreat" experiences. Quiet, holy, blessed. We met Sister Doris working in the garden and she took us around the complex; explaining, questioning, experiencing. Perfect. She also told us that, when the nuns originally moved in, this was farmland! Each year, the seminarian class from the neighboring Franciscan order, planted a new set of trees. What an amazing work of man, blessed by God. The whole place is breathtaking. St. Francis would be pleased :0)

This and the picture below are from their website

The Holy Door led here, to their chapel. All of the wood furniture was carved by a Franciscan brother out of the trees in the forest! 

Sweet girl with her Patron :0)

The Holy Door (it was in a very narrow space...)

They found an earthworm in Sr. Doris's garden

After prayers and goodbyes we were headed South...we arrived in Louisville, after rain and many miles, just in time for dinner (thank you, Drury Inn!)

God was kind enough to end the rain just as we ended our dinner so we headed back out. The Cathedral of the Assumption was a beautiful building and we would have loved to go inside but, like many churches outside of our area, it was buttoned up tight, even at 6 PM (we are blessed to have space open to pray morning and evening!). We checked out the Holy Door, found a new nun to research and headed to our last stop of the evening.

Mother Catherine Spalding, Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. This was the first statue of a historic woman in a public space in Louisville, unveiled in July, 2015!

DH was not a fan of the non-traditional Holy Door ;0)

The last stop was very nearby and easy to find...just look for the giant bat!

So funny

The Louisville Slugger museum was also closed but there was plenty of fun to be had outside, including a "base" celebrating a very famous Pirate. Let's go Bucs!

A very long, blessed day. Home to bed and up early to begin day two of our adventure!

We are blessed.

UPDATE
I forgot about the journey back to the hotel...we actually stopped at another Holy Door, this one at Holy Trinity good prep for this Sunday :0)

The Holy Door was open (yay) but the church was closed :0(

Blessed day...

We've been enjoying our time off this week. Lots of puzzle-solving, reading and board games (it's been too muddy to go out much). Yesterday, the eve of Ascension Thursday, was like a big Mass cookie with baseball filling ;0) (don't worry, no one here thought it was funny either).

When I was walking through the house yesterday morning, turning on the lights and trying to wake up, I came face-to-face with this. I stopped long enough to read it, think a moment, and snap a picture.

When the Holy Spirit takes the time to put something like that in my face, it usually means I'm in for an interesting day. The Holy Spirit did not disappoint.

The little blond girl said she had a headache at breakfast and didn't feel great. I asked if she wanted to stay home and she said "no" so she rested and after about an hour, we headed out.

We were on the fifth decade of our rosary, about to pull into the parking garage, when she (it was her decade) started crying. Before I could ask what was wrong, she threw up the little she had eaten for breakfast. (I am always grateful at these moments for my friends with many kids...I know they're walking this walk along with me so it helps a great deal to know I'm not alone.)

Thankfully, having dressed for the predicted cold weather that didn't happen, I was able to peel off her coat and jersey and  give her my top shirt as a replacement. It was perfect because, being long, it covered the cleaned up spots on her pants. (I so admire this kid...she's like me in the puking department...you feel horrible, then you do it, and it's back to normal...sorry for the tmi).

We headed into town early so we could go to Mass before the game. We love the church downtown. It's small, full of candles, and has the most beautiful Blessed Mother statue. It was still early when we arrived so we enjoyed the sun in the plaza next door.

See? Feeling much better

I love the beauty of our city and its buildings

We enjoy attending a parish downtown and tend to go there on Wednesday, whenever possible. The reason is a very special priest who says Mass on Wednesday fairly frequently. My eldest child, when walking out always says, "that was the best homily I've ever heard!". Sadly, this priest was not in attendance yesterday and a riot was beginning to brew. Luckily the bishop walked in just then so I bought them off with, "well, if not Fr. Joe than a bishop is OK too." Equally unfortunate, it was not the bishop who processed to the altar but a very lovely Capuchin or Franciscan priest. I welcome these occasions and enjoy the discussions that follow, usually involving, "you realize you're not going to Mass to be entertained or to see your favorite priest."

It was equally wonderful when, walking out, we were approached by the deacon who welcomed us, told us how great it is to see children at that parish, and gave us a really nice blessing..."Lord, please shower them with Your graces today." Perhaps the Holy Spirit had clued the dear deacon in as to the happenings of our day so far ;0)

Hearts and souls refreshed...we hopped the trolley and rode under the river to the ballgame. 

I cannot say enough for our local team's kids club. It's free to join and you get a free Chick-fil-a kid's meal plus a free game ticket and four or five bogo ticket coupons. The total for our six tickets was $30. I brought a bunch of food so we only had to buy water and popcorn/pretzels so the total food was $12. The only difficulty was parking but I made an allowance...the T is under construction and you literally can't get there from here unless you give yourself an extra two hours.

Every time I go, I can't believe how blessed these kids are...this is their baseball park!

Bacon Bert (what's up with that...bacon?) won the pierogi race

We made it out ahead of the rain, over the bridge, back to the car and home safely. Thank you God for the wonderful day!

We left a few innings early (the Cubs were in town and they seem to have our number this series), the score being 5-0 and the rain threatening. The kids finished out the game at home until it was called for storms.

grand slam!

We are blessed to participate in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. It's a wonderful program and I highly recommend it if you're looking for a good way to instill a deeper faith in your kids. We drive 40 minutes each way to get to the closest church that offers all the levels of the program but it is more than worth the time spent traveling.

Last night was the closing Mass of CGS this year and, as luck (ahem) would have it, also the Vigil for Ascension Thursday. Double bonus! DH got home, we jumped in the car and headed North. The older four even got to take up the gifts. I love when we, all seven, get to share Mass. It is a very special time.

St. John Neumann, pray for us

What a wonderful day...trial and joy and graces in abundance (thanks, deacon!). I am so grateful to God for this opportunity to spend my days with the little people. All the days can't be this fun...there are plenty on the opposite side of the scale, but they are all spent together...experiencing, growing, and giving thanks.

We are blessed.

Baby Boy

I have about three hundred things to do right now but today is a party day around here...our baby turns FOUR!!! 

It's kind of crazy to me. This morning, DH said, "It doesn't really seem that long, does it?". I don't know. It's a first for us. Usually there was a new baby within two years so the threes and fours got lost. How blessed we have been to have this guy be the one with whom we spend extra time. It's been a lot of fun. He is wise beyond his years and cracks us up on a regular basis. Like all good later-borns, he looks much smarter because he has so many opinions from which to choose. How blessed he is to be following all of these big personalities.

Our April boys...connected forever

He is blessed to have such wonderful godparents.

 

Wow...so not worthy of all of these amazing blessings.

I think being dragged along helps you have a more easy-going personality. Seems to have worked for him.

He is our intrepid traveler...always ready for the next adventure.

He will learn his faith, whether he likes it or not ;0)

He is, above all, a typical little boy. For that I am so grateful.

Today was a great day for a little boy. He put on his party hat at breakfast and didn't abandon it (it broke from his head being closer to adult size than kid size) until after lunch. Party at Mom's Day Out, lunch with great auntie at Armstrongs, home to watch some Gumby, then the best ever gift...an evening with Dad.

Gifts from sisters were delivered early

Not quite awake

Cards with breakfast

Brother is studying Matisse...he tells me it's a boy blowing out a birthday cake

Lunchtime (I told you about the hat)

His "gift" - two rooms of bubble wrap

Outfitted with his new shirt from Aunt Syl and ready to head out with Dad...Let's go Bucs!

Unexpected and unbelievable. We are so blessed by you. Happy birthday, Mr. G!

Photo Dump

I have a sink full of dishes and I still have lesson plans to write so all I can say is, wow, what a wonderful day/weekend. Picnics, trolleys, baseball, birthdays. So many wonderful memories made.

We are blessed.

A Capital Fourth doesn't enthrall everyone

 The caterpillar was also out cold.

 Our private car to the game!

 

The closest thing they'll get to tattoos (I pray)

 

 

 The seats were waayyy up...but the view was excellent.

 The happy crew

 

Hooray! A Pirate win!!!

 

  

Just like that...out again.

 

  

Baby Watermelon cake...so cute.

 The hot dog buns are circus peanuts and the hamburger rolls are vanilla wafers. Ingenious!

 Happy Birthday to the July girls!

We will miss cousin...he is so much fun :0)