Home Weekend with a Twist

Peter and Joseph prepare for a ride on Galbraith.

Mountain biking, duck hunting, football viewing, and a pizza dinner were all part of the predictable plans for Peter on his second home weekend this fall.  But the big (tiny) surprise rested in his arms as he welcomed a new foster sister, Angelina.  Peter woke up early with lots of love to share and helped feed and bathe our little visitor at the crack of dawn.  Of course early rising is part of Peter's normal routine at high school seminary, but nevertheless, his willingness to jump right in was heartwarming. 

'Angelina' rests in Peter's arms

Joseph's role as the primary teen assistant around the house is relaxed on Peter's home weekends, so not only does he anxiously await opportunities for fun with his little brother once a month, but also gladly shares the chores and duties.  Joseph, true to his easy going nature, joined Peter for a chanted evening prayer (praying the Psalms) one night, doing his best to follow the unfamiliar routine reverently.

Peter feeds 'Angelina' breakfast.

We celebrated another first for Peter as he moved up the ranks of altar servers at our local parish, accepting Father Altenhofen's invitation to serve as acolyte.  Just as Zachary mentored Joseph a few years ago, Joseph trained Peter before vesting, and stood nearby in the role of cross bearer ready to assist if any situations arose.  Peter handled his new liturgical role with poise and reverence, and took great care to perform his duties properly and not to draw attention to himself.

Peter serves as acolyte at Sunday Mass, behind the scenes at E's baptism.

Peter serves first Mass as acolyte, assisting Father Joseph at the altar as Joseph looks on from the cross bearer seat.

Returning to school Monday evening with a bag of clean laundry and a pile of books, Peter greeted his schoolmates and spent a few minutes in the game room before the bells rang for evening prayer.  As many of the major (college) seminarians had not yet returned from home weekend, several of the high school students, Peter included, were able to pray vespers from within the Benedictine's choir.  Joining the community's Liturgy of the Hours in the abbey church and feasting on home made piroshky (freshly prepared by the high school boys under Father Peter's tutelage) rounded out my monastery drop-off experience quite nicely.  Peter's home weekends really are a blessing for all of us.

Working the Night Shift {Fostering a Newborn}

After Mass on the Feast of Saint Charles Borromeo, we answered a call to take in a newborn whose parents cannot yet take care of her.  Due to a strange 'coincidence,' it seems like Saint Charles himself was involved in this new foster placement, but I'll save the 'communion of saints' story for another day.

For privacy purposes, we shall call her Angelina on the blog.  To answer the most common question: No, we don't know for how long she will be with us.  It could be one week, one month or longer.  The fostering process involves much mystery and many moving parts.  Our prayers (and hopefully yours) go out for little Angelina and for her family at this time of separation and the various trials and tribulations accompanying such an unsettling occurrence.

Within 24 hours of our new foster placement, our friends began showering gifts upon little Angelina.

Speaking of St. Charles...
St. Charles Borromeo, St. Peter Canisius, St. Turibius of Mongrovejo and St. Robert Bellarmine are the only four people mentioned by name at the beginning of the Catechism of the Catholic Church; cited as responsible for the Council of Trent, which gave way to the modern day catechism. Have you ever looked at the Catechism of the Catholic Church?  Inside, the teachings of the Church are clearly taught with Biblical citations throughout.

If your authority on what the Catholic Church teaches includes lapsed and/or poorly catechized Catholics or anti Catholics, there's a good chance you'll be pleasantly surprised when you discover what the Church actually teaches and why.

Recently, someone shared an interesting fact gleaned from a historical study of the reformation.  Another asked in response, "I wonder if you will also study the counter-reformation?"  If studying one side of the great divorce of the Church makes sense, doesn't studying both sides of the huge break seem appropriate?  The documents from the Council of Trent make for some interesting reading:

CHAPTER XII
RASH PRESUMPTION OF PREDESTINATION IS TO BE AVOIDED

No one, moreover, so long as he lives this mortal life, ought in regard to the sacred mystery of divine predestination, so far presume as to state with absolute certainty that he is among the number of the predestined,[74] as if it were true that the one justified either cannot sin any more, or, if he does sin, that he ought to promise himself an assured repentance.

St. Charles Borromeo was a key player and brave leader in the counter reformation, and quite an effective reformer within the Church.  He's also a personal friend and a great and powerful intercessor, alive in heaven.  My grade school and parish Church was named in his honor, and I consider him one of my finest teachers.  Thank you, Saint Charles Borromeo; please pray for us!

Fostering Moments {Placement Changes}

Tim cares for the twins outside the courtroom, after the judge ordered them out.  

Waiting in the courtroom for over 90 minutes, the twins' case number was finally called.  Within the first moments of the proceedings, the judge asked that the twins please be removed to the hallway so that he could actually hear the case.  Tim kindly volunteered to be on duty, thereby missing the hearing he had waited so patiently to witness.  As it turns out, those were his final moments as the foster dad for these two beautiful toddlers.   After all sides were heard, the judge ruled (fairly and rightly by our estimation, though not in agreement with the state) that the twins be placed in their mother's care effective immediately.  Bittersweet, but satisfying results wrapping up our six month ordeal as the foster family for "Luke and Leia".  Our relationship won't end immediately, though.  Their mom needs childcare in order to attend to family business in Canada, so on occasional weekends we will have our hands full of twins again.
 

Someone's been playing with his dad's clippers!

In moments of lukewarm supervision while visiting his dad's new 'safe' home, "Tony" has entertained himself with hobbies like hiding thumbtacks in the carpet, giving himself a reverse mohawk, and getting locked out on the back deck.  Turns out dad shuts off the breaker to the stove during "Tony's" stays... indicating that perhaps he's taken a fascination with unsupervised cooking escapades as well.

Moving the planned father-son reunification along, but slowing the pace to a crawl, the state decided to return "Tony" to his original foster home (which will be a dream come true for "Tony").  The reverse placement will take place in a little over a week, so our foster kids' room (once known as Zac's room) will be vacant by the Feast of St. Agnes. 

Peter corrects the clipper mishap with a clean sweep.

Home Sick {Summer Camp Blues}

Zac sleeps out on a recent troop camp out in Leavenworth.

Imagine my surprise when Zachary appeared on the front doorstep this afternoon!  Unfortunately ill 3 days into BSA summer camp, he came home to rest and recover.  That makes 3 of us who have fallen to the flu-like illness which is going around these parts.  It's an odd time of year for a stomach flu to sweep through town, but it's making our rainy, stormy summer complete.

"They are just getting over the flu..."  famous last words of the placement-social worker on the day Luke & Leia were placed in our care... but by the (growing) roster of those who have come down with intestinal sickness since their arrival, it would be safe to assume that at least one of them was still contagious upon joining our family.  Not to cast blame, rather to take a note for possible future foster pre-placement Q&A.

Note to self:
Please add "Have they been symptom free for 24 hours?" to standard inquiries regarding future foster placements...

Displaced for Charity {New Foster Placement}

From teen den to twin haven in under two hours: priceless

An urgent placement request yesterday involving 11 month old twins gave our family an opportunity to be of service to the homeless.  Tim and I discussed it, and agreed to meet with our boys to come to a family consensus before committing.  Peter jumped at the idea, thrilled at the thought; Joseph groaned, but consented with a "no changing diapers" clause.  Zachary's answer was wise, "It's not really my choice to make. I am willing, but don't expect a lot of babysitting."  Fair enough.

Zachary's sacrifice involved more than meets the eye: his bedroom was the only suitable place to set up two cribs on the same floor as our master bedroom as the law requires.  In an extreme act of charity, Zac gave up his bedroom.  In a little over two hours he dissembled his bed and moved almost all his belongings downstairs and helped set up the cribs.  This generosity is not in any way out of character, but it is heartwarming to see our nearly 17 year old son so willing to give up his own comfort zone (in more ways than one) for the sake of needy strangers.

Charlie hangs out with Zac in his temporary shelter.

Loving friends delivered a crib, car seat, and high chair which they (quite suddenly) did not need anymore when their foster child was relocated with a family member.  A Craigslist seller willingly delivered and assembled a second crib within an hour.  Phone and email offers of clothes, toys, equipment and even a dinner for our family poured in within minutes of a request for help on the local CatholicMoms e-group.

A rough night, with several wakings and one lasting over an hour (with screaming) has left us a bit fuzzy today.  Peter hopped out of bed at 6:30AM to offer assistance with bottles and diaper changes.
We still have plans to worship at our usual daily Mass, expecting that we could spend most of the time in the way back.  Already several moms have offered to assist us so we can be there as always.  Time will tell!  This morning nap is precious...

Sleeper boy