The Parenting Battle

It has been a rough day for my psyche, and I feel very acutely today the uncertainty and weight of the path we call parenthood. How do I go about raising my little ones to become good, holy people who will go take the world by storm and change it for the better? My heart is heavy as my search seems to lead me to more indecision and is fueled by the "Mommy Wars" that seem to pervade every nook and cranny of many conversations and the internet. Attachment parenting, sleep training, spanking, time-outs, voice tone, vaccinations, food choices, public education, homeschooling, and blah blah blah. Anyone have a brick wall I can borrow, or better yet a really good pair of earplugs?

I find it frustrating that we spend so much time tearing each other down, and less building up, supporting and truly loving one another and our children. Why do we spend so much time arguing about the best way a good mother should love her child, and do more for those children who have no one to love them at all? I mean no two children are the same, we are all different and have different love languages. Why then are we trying to shove everyone and their children into a single little box?

We sleep train our children when it is age appropriate, especially if a problem exists that is causing a child to lose too much sleep so that it is adversely affecting them and the rest of the family. I am trying so hard to learn not to raise my voice, but that is challenging. We choose not to vaccinate until they are older. I am trying to do more developing virtue, and less discipline. I hope that I can lead through servant leadership and example, not through fear and coercion. This is who we are, and what works for our very own little family. I don't know what works for you and yours, but be who you are and live that which is important to you and helps your family grow and be happy.

At the end of the day, a few things stick out to me. I want my children to know without a doubt that they are greatly loved unconditionally by God and their parents. I want them to know Christ our Lord and Savior, to have a personal relationship with Him, to imitate Him and to practice virtue throughout their life. How will we go about instilling these in them, that I am unsure. I want our home to be one in which they will always feel safe, loved, and free to express themselves just as they are. I can only pray that I am shown guidance through prayer, that I can learn to fail and pick myself back up again, admit my wrongs, and exert mountains of love and patience.

 I refuse to take offense when others choose to raise their children differently or make vastly different decisions than we have chosen to make. Nor will I judge or look down on their choices. We all have our own road to holiness, and God calls us to many different challenges and to meet those challenges in different ways. May God bless you on your road and may we all meet at the end in paradise.

M

Leo's 1st Easter

Just after we got back from Fargo, Paul's parents arrived to celebrate the rest of Holy Week and Easter with us. It was nice that Paul and I got to go to our first Holy Thursday Mass in a long time as G &G stayed home with the sleeping kiddos. The week was fun, Good Friday was very dreary as per usual, and we made cookies to frost for Easter. Holy Saturday we hung out and dyed eggs and frosted cookies and watched the new 007 Skyfall. Sunday was a very beautiful day! Sophia loved trying to find all the eggs hidden all over the living and dining room. Mass was very crowded as usual even though we were over a half hour early. John and Paul's co-worker Holly came for dinner, and we all stuffed our faces so much I couldn't eat until Tuesday... no exaggeration.

A tired Sophia getting some Grandpa time!

Learning how to color Easter eggs

Daddy's egg in the orange dye

concentrating

Grandma W back from the store

LEO!

Two peas in a pod... they are so fun together.

The Easter bunny strikes again... He is a funny looking bunny....

Easter morning, look at all that grass and those eggs.

Ready for Easter Mass.

Changed and getting ready for company and dinner.

Lounging and balloons.

Daddy built a sweet Easter train track...hours of fun until Leo destroyed it :)

Happy boy loves his spoon and bananas

Many travels over and spring has arrived!

It has been a very busy new year, I am so behind and cannot believe it is April! Happy Easter to all! We had lots of travels and a great many visitors the past few months. Both sets of grandparents were her multiple times as were several friends from out of state. I have never washed so many sheets and towels in my life. We decided to take the whole family on a few of Paul's work trips so that we could meet all of the teams he oversees in Duluth, Mankato, Fargo, and Bismarck. We had a blast, but time changes, very early and very late flights, and teething children make life ultra interesting.

Other wise, they are growing like weeds. Leo is crawling around like a maniac and has two front teeth. Sophia is growing with leaps and bounds and loves Cinderella, playing with her blocks and wooden train set, and is eating us out of house and home. Our biggest accomplishment these past few months was to move the two of them in together in Sophia's room. It is so nice to have our room back, and Leo is not waking up 4 times at night because of us coming in late or getting up early. They play so well together, and I am working on sorting out things and doing some spring cleaning.

Our mom's group Magnificat Moms has been very busy. I am the TLC person, so I help organize and deliver meals to new moms and with the baby boom this spring, I have been delivering a meal almost once a week. I am also helping to plan our Easter party and egg hunt for the kiddos next week. Sophia and I are filling lots of eggs, and next week we will be making a bucket load of cookies to decorate!  We are keeping busy!

On the home front, we are trying to decide if we will move from our apartment. Lots to think about, and decision and details to follow soon I hope :)

Alright, here is the best part! A few pictures of all our happenings. :)

We love trains at our house... hours of fun!

 
Sophia, Leo, and Mandie

Grandpa G pulling Sophia around the yard

Penny, Grandpa, Sophia and Mandie coming back from a snowshoe trek on the frozen lake... Skittles in tow.

Snow angels!

It was a beautiful day and we were having a blast!

Grandpa and babies Susanna and Leo

Plastic container just the perfect size for a Leo bath! He loved it!

Paul trying to do push-ups with two very silly girls along for the ride.

Addy and Sophia having too much fun.

Leo, Mandie, Sophia, Addy, Ruth (with baby L on board) and Susanna

A Season of Travel

A few days after Paul returned from Roma, we were off again as a family on a cross-country drive to Madison, WI. The kiddos were amazing, and traveled like pros. Not a peep out of either of them over two days until the last 25 minutes or so when were stuck in rush hour traffic on the infamous Beltline in Madison. Should have known better but oh well. We spent 8 days meeting up with Paul's mission partners and several friends we made during our 3 year stint there. It was a blast. We stayed with the wonderful Chris and Patti, who made us feel so very at home. It was great!

We returned to Denver on Sunday night only to have Paul hop a flight the very next morning to MN. Needless to say it was an ugly start to the week as we hadn't exactly left the place in the best condition and it is hard to get ahead with two crabby kids recovering from a long trip. We recovered though, just in time to hop another flight a week later to ND for work and Thanksgiving.

We arrived in Fargo on an evening flight, which went well considering how late it was. It is always so nice to be home! We spent a few days before Thanksgiving cooking and making all sorts of goodies to bring North to Grandma's house for butchering. I also sat at Sam's while my Mom and I got new phones - for under a buck!!!! Needless to say I spent the last several weeks learning how to man the thing.

We went to my Grandma and Grandpa Gapp's for Thanksgiving Day. It was so nice to see all the family. Then on Friday we hit the road to see my other Grandma Sauer and to begin butchering. We also got to see my cousin Jessica and her family as they stopped on their way through. The following are pictures of the oldest 3 grandchildren and all 6 of the Gapp great-grandchildren. So glad we got them all together.

Still can't believe this attempt worked, but all six kiddos in order by age!! (and looking :)

From L to R: Ethan, Sophia, Addy, Susanna, Leo, and Josie

Paul spent most of the weekend in the milkparlor/butcher shop. Sophia ran around with the other cousins, Leo was held by one of the many young ladies, and I cooked and washed lots of dishes. 

Leo and my cousin Hope. She is a baby magnet, and so helpful!

Grandma helping Sophia get ready.

Sophia heading out to play.

The Loegerings, Paul and Sophia out in the cold.

Cooking up a storm, what happens when you feed 40 some people

Kitchen

Games with the cousins in the living room. Nertz and the Farming Game

Becky and Josh

Becky holding Leo... she was an angel getting him to sleep for me :)

Dad avoiding the camera.

Leo, Sophia, Addy, and Susanna

Squeezey Love!

Sophia, Great-Grandma, and Susanna

Happy bunch of Ladies... and Leo :)

We had an uneventful flight home, with 2 huge cooler bags full of frozen meat. It was a lot colder here in Denver than when we left, but we are so glad to be home and getting back into our routine as we begin the holy season of Advent.

Paul in Roma, Italia

Paul had the amazing opportunity to go to Rome with FOCUS this past week Oct. 20-28. While I cannot write about his experience, here are just a few highlights from his trip.

Michael, Paul, & Rob

Paul and Dan at Villa Fatima where they stayed

Paul at the Colosseum. 

Inside St. John Lateran

The heads (skulls) of St. Peter and St. Paul

Papal Audience (We got to know Daniel one of the Swiss guards who is standing at the front right of the pope mobile when we were in Rome 3 years ago.)

Pope Benedict XVI

Dan, Joe and Paul in St. Peters

Paul going up to the chapel of St. Ignatius

The chapel of St. Ignatius where he lived the last 12 years of his life.

Dan, Joe and Paul in St. Peters

Paul at St. Paul outside the wall (stunning basilica). 

Tomb of St. Paul

Inside of St. Paul outside the wall. The images of all the popes are around the top just above the pillars.

Alter of St. Leo the Great in St. Peters

The description of the Altar

Dan and Paul were able to meet up with Fr. Tait who we know from Madison, WI.

Lastly, Paul in front of the Trevi Fountain.