Lenten Reflection

 Though I say to the ­wicked man that he shall ­surely die, if he turns away from his sin and does what is right and just, giving back pledges, restoring stolen goods, living by the statutes that bring life, and doing no wrong, he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of the sins he committed shall be held against him; he has done what is right and just, he shall surely live.   

 -Ezekiel 33:14-16

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A Word to the Wise

If your maxillofacial surgeon’s Brazilian blowout is too perfect, she may not be spending enough time on perfecting her professional skills. 

She advertised her Catholic faith to me before surgery, which I thought was weird. I mean, I thought: I’m glad you assent to the only Faith with a complete anthropological understanding, but that doesn’t take the place of the surgical skills required at present. [She had excellent reviews ironically; but now I’m suspicious of the 5-star reviews. Is there really no one who has ever complained? I mean, my implant failed in 3.5 years; and I’m not writing the nasty review because I don’t want potential employers to see that first when they google my name. My new guy has 4.7 stars and more reviews. I assumed she had “excellent credentials” based on the 5-stars.]

So, I found a surgeon with better credentials, who didn’t try to talk me into the $800 extra for unneeded general anesthesia to remove the failed implant. He attempted the graft again. He didn’t tell me about his faith life, though he’s Christian; but he did do a competent job. Life is hard with Irish dental genes; and it’s harder with a bad dentist.

Unrelated, this day in WI in 2019 vs. this day in CA in 2026. We don’t hate it here!:

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Rugby FTW!

This has been good for our family.

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Daddy Daughter Dance

 Didn’t have a photo with DH. :(

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Lenten Reflections

The beginning of pride is stubbornness in withdrawing the heart from one’s Maker. -Sirach 10:12

We’ve all struggled mightily with fidelity in the last decade—the Church, clergy, religious, married people. Everyone. DH and I were reflecting upon why good, devout people do evil, especially as we strive to be devout ourselves and fall short so frequently.

We decided that everyone finds himself “devout.” In my nonprofit experience, everyone wants to speak as an authority—a devout Catholic—on this or that topic without stopping to consider whether he is the most qualified to do so. I’m sure this has always been the case, but I have been painfully aware of it due to my jobs. 

So we decided that we need to ask better questions when vetting people. Are we going to Mass every Sunday? Do we pray every day? Do our hearts belong to the Lord? (Eg. Do we have a personal relationship with Jesus? Can we pray spontaneously with regularity and sincerity?) Further, even if we were at one time doing all those things, are we still doing them? It’s amazing to me how easily we accept others as “authorities” based solely on their connections, board positions, or affluence. Arguably those qualifications are greater temptations to infidelity.

I said to DH, “stubbornness is the beginning of pride.” “What?” he asked. “It’s in the Bible. I may not be quoting precisely.” “I don’t recall that but there is a lot in Sirach like that.” So I googled it and affirmed my smartypants husband’s citation: Sirach (10:12) The beginning of pride is stubbornness in withdrawing the heart from one’s Maker. It’s not even hubris which causes the initial fall. It’s laziness. Thankfully, we have this Lent to renew our own efforts and to bolster our friends through our prayers. Far from dividing us, hitting bottom requires us to band together to pull up.

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School Fundraiser KickOff

We lost our best fundraiser this week and did our best this morning anyway. The teen is embarrassed.

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Ash Wednesday

The wrestling coach was sporting ashes, while Sweet Pea and the Fourth turned out to be a great grappling pair. 

I went to tan and workout with my ashes not to show off but because that’s where I was going anyway. I always love how many people you see on Ash Wednesday. The Church is missing something when not all of her members are present every week. It was so good to see all our people!

My friend who can go deep:

I ran into these two at Mass.

I post this not to be narcissistic but to show how at peace I am being with my kids again. There is very little that brings me as much satisfaction as being their mom.

Five asked me for three days if I would take him to the store to use his $4 to buy his big brother a monster egg because Four always shares his toys with Five. “You are so sweet!” I told him. “And I’m not sweet?!” Sweet Pea asked. “No, you’re not,” Four responded.

So there is a photo of the Engineer:

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Chasing Perfection

Sol came up to me downhearted. “Mom, I wasted all my [computer] time.” 

“Why did you waste all your time, Bud?”

“I was looking for the perfect game.”

[Raucous laughter.]

“Honey, Mommy’s wasted a lot of time chasing perfection as well. It’s a bummer.”

These kids are full of prodigious statements.

 

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V-Day

He ordered me a cosmopolitan like the first drink he bought me in 2005.

Gratuitousness from the kids:

The dude who scheduled Mock Trial put it on Valentine’s Day:

From the Fourth:

From Wisconsin. These were gone in 24 hours:

Our espresso machine, which we bought for half off during black Friday, stopped working already but then STARTED again! 😅

We had our hair done together again at my new guy, who is the best I’ve ever had. He ended up removing a matte in her hair. He also talked her into shortening it so it was lower maintenance.

We’re pros at going here for $20. It’s the best view in HB!

This never gets old.

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More Michigan Friends

These two go back 35 years.

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Signs

Sometimes you ask the Lord for reminders that He is with you and you are not alone. He always answers.

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Altar Server Appreciation

This group keeps growing. 

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Fighting for the Glory

One picked. The other passed them off to mom as his idea. I suggested that they both give me flowers, which they found agreeable. This is a microcosm of middle-aged adult life. 🤣😅🙏🏼

 

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Quintessential Kindergarten Life

 

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Malibu & Michigan Friends

DH took a trip North to see a visiting friend and came back happy. It’s always refreshing to connect with one’s roots and workout in the sunshine and ocean air. God is good!

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