I left my heart in philly....

It's 8:11 and I finally have a free minute to blog about what's been going on. I went to Philadelphia for the weekend with the kids and my cousin to visit my sister in law's family and especially to give my cousin a sense of "larger" america-- the part that isn't southern, and isn't small-towny.
It was an amazing trip!
We enjoyed family time with my SIL's family, especially since Annika has a cousin there who is exactly her age. She and Ava played and had a great time, while Annika's older cousin, Alex, shared some of his daily life with me. He's a really great kid with a lot going on upstairs-- talented, funny, and heading on towards manhood.
We took the train into the City and visited all the historical sights that would have made my dad proud.... liberty bell, Ben Franklin, and the place where the declaration of independance was signed. It was the first time I really got a chance to dig into the city-- and I loved it as much as I was sure I would.
It's funny how I used to be such a city girl, and now I'm just blown away by how fast and crazy everything is there. I left the quiet North Carolina Countryside (to give you an idea, here is the lake right next to my house)

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books and liesurely walks in the country side,
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peppered by the occasional 82nd Airborne raid
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and found myself planted in the middle of the sweaty, loud, smelly, beautiful city, among masses of people who cross each other's paths every day without even blinking. Amazing.

When we got off the train, we were acosted by this group of militant, mean looking black guys who were raging about how the white man was trying to keep them down, all the while poopooing the Catholic Church as the cause of slavery. Ironic. Kinda nuts. My cousin couldn't take his eyes off them... he's been on the news in France for leading student strikes at his school, etc. He loves that kind of stuff.
I had never realized the significance the liberty bell had for people in other parts of the world until I saw it myself. It was very moving.
I also had the opportunity to visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art--- where I saw some AMAZING artwork that basically blew my mind.

The highlight of my trip was a visit to the shrine of St. Gianna Molla, as well as attending Sunday mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Bridgeport... the city that Wayne and I want to move to.
We had some wonderful girl time, too. All in all, an excellent trip--- and I was proud of how I overcame alot of the difficulties, like having no where to change the kids in the city, or the fact that I had to share a bed with them in the hotel and therefore got NO sleep.

The next day, I was fortunate enough to attend Holy Mass at the rectory again-- this time with my four favorite ladies.
It was awesome. Wayne has had a couple really promising interviews this week and I have one coming up. Enjoy the photos.


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Annika and Ava


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The MIL and the SIL


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Waiting for the train from Bryn Mawr


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Annika plots a revolution


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Aurelien the greek


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Portrait gallery


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First Bank (all the buildings are cool and old like this!)


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My handsome moy (man boy)


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Annika sees a groundhog. Or a tennis ball. I'm not really sure.


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Saint Barbara!


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The Lord on the Cross.... so beautiful!


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San Damiano Crucifix!


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They were really proud of owning this in their collection :P


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Wow. Words fail me.


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Asian land


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Armory


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This one reminded me of Wayne so much!


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In the back you can see the Rocky Statue!!!!


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The actual rocky steps


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Valley Forge


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The girls being silly


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I will eat you mommy!!!


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Beautiful beans!


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Ishod took advantage of the trip to stand for the first time


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Everybody's scared of grandma time...


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Alex and Ishod-- those men have got to stick together!


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Alex reminding me how to play Magic, the Gathering. as you can see, I suck. And no, I didn't contract any demons.
:P


Bye bye Philadelphia--- hoperfully the next time I see you, I'll be living in your suburbs!! :)

TV and Homechurch

When I was growing up, we didn't have TV. My parents are teachers, and they knew there was always a book we could be reading... I grew up IN a library.
I didn't feel like I was missing anything.
Then, when I turned, like, fourteen or something, we got cable TV. And my parents made this rule: the only show we were allowed to watch (we being the kids) was the Cosby Show.
It seems funny to a lot of you, I know, who think the Cosby Show was cheesy because you grew up watching Full House or freaking Punky Brewster.... but let me tell you, I got a LOT of my values from the Cosbys.

Since Wayne and I were just given the opportunity to have TV for free, we took it. And we've encountered quite a bit of sheer garbage, but there are some gems in there too. EWTN is amazing. We love watching GHI on wednesday nights (it's our new date night!) and I've been blessed to re-encounter my old friends, the Cosbys.

While instilling awesome family values, the Cosbys manage to do something that very few people do IRL, and I cherish the lessons I've learned from them about it: Maintain your sense of humor.

Through the years of the show, the family saw some very difficult situations. But they never lost their sense of humor, and ultimately, their joy won out. I pray that every day my family might acquire more of that characteristic joyfulness. And that as my own children grow and watch the show, they learn the real meaning of familial love.

Wayne and I were slathered in grace today. We not only had the opportunity to be UBER blessed by attending Holy Mass at the rectory with our priest (just the three of us-- it was SO intimate!) but also to be united with him after a loooooong time apart (he's been on bedrest for a month.) Wayne had been seeing him periodically but I hadn't, and I was so stoked to get a chance to hang out and talk Jesus with my favorite of His representatives.

Holy Mass in the rectory was THE coolest experience. I've always been a mega fan of simplicity, of homechurches, of ACTS churching. And I found it awesome that we just had this conversation in Ravelry's discussions about religions group, that the early church was simple, and didn't do worship in these ridiculous, grandiose cathedrals, etc.
Mass at home was, I imagine, much like what occured at the services we hear about in the book of Acts. Simple. Faithful. Thankful. I experienced the same mystical stuff that I've grown to love and be aware of, but in a much gentler kind of a way. The HOLINESS was still there, the sacredness of the highest prayer we have to offer to the Lord. But within that was a comfort and a familiarity and an intimacy that I wouldn't have traded for the world.

Particularly since, armed with my new understanding of the theology of the body, I have this deep appreciation for the "married" relationship between myself, my husband, and our priest. We are each very intimately connected one to the other, and sharing Eucharist in that setting (although my husband still can't receive!!! Soon, though. Looks like November!) was just so moving I sobbed.

While we were there, Father gave me a copy of the Daily Roman Missal...gasp!!! this is a book I've wanted for MANY Months-- but it costs $95!!! I was so excited that he just "happened" to have an extra one!

To make matters even more amazing, after a fabulous lunch, we went to pick up the kids and found that not only had they been very well cared for and loved, but that the family who was caring for them wouldn't let us pay them!!! HUGE blessing, considering our Rent is due monday and we don't even have it all together yet!

THEN, we went to drop off Father and had to stop at a gas station on the way. He insisted on pumping the gas, and asked for my credit card, then sneakily switched it with his so that he could fill up our tank for us!!! Hello, with gas prices these days and rent due, we could not have felt more like it was Christmas in July. Or august. Whatever. There me and WAyne were in the car, stuck because our car doors don't open from the inside, hollering at him to quit it, but he pretended not to hear. What a sweetie.

OK, I"m off to shower and get ready for mass tomorrow. Can't wait!