1st grade haircut

Yesterday was Tommy's first day of 1st grade. He cut his own bangs for the occasion. 😂✂️

The third time around this "leaving at school business", it was easier. When Adelaide went to first grade (last picture), I would be anxious and praying for her the whole day. When Daniel dropped Davy off two years ago (second to last pic), I was checking into the hospital to have Lettie lightly induced at FORTY TWO weeks. (Some of you might be thinking: I didn't know you could wait so long! You "can't" in the sense that doctors don't like it, but you should be able to make your own (informed) medical decisions, freely.)

Anyway, Lettie was born and I couldn't wait to know about his day at school and support him during his first weeks. 

Little did I know that there was already a hospital bacteria (came in with the epidural needle), growing on my lower spine. I spent some very painful and scary-for-the-kids days. It was probably traumatizing for them seeing their mom writhing and crying with pain for days. Finally, I had my operation, spent 10 days at the hospital and came home, but with an entourage of nurses twice a day, physical therapy twice a day, personal higiene, etc. 

.....so, do you get the idea? There went the supporting Davy. 

This time around we were all relaxed, we took pictures and talked to the other families we love. A lot better!

Soaking up nature, soaking up rest

This past year was tough for me, and the summer wasn't going too much better, but God really gave us amazing rest and lots of beach time these past two weeks. 

The first pictures are Lettie and Rosie getting matching hair wraps. I just thought it was hilarious how much Lettie wanted one and how still she sat!

Drying and warming up together, having conversations. Beautiful sunsets, again having conversations. 

I'm trying to focus on all I am learning. 

Este ano passado foi difícil para mim, e o verão não corria melhor, mas Deus deu-nos um descanso incrível e muito tempo de praia estas duas semanas passadas. 

As primeiras fotos são a Leticia e a Rosinha a receber tererés a condizer. Achei engraçadíssimo quanto a Leticia queria um e o tão quietinha ela ficou!

A secar e aquecer juntos, a conversar. 

Pôr-de-sol lindo, também a conversar. 

Estou a tentar gravar na memória tudo o que estou a aprender. 

Ask for help

It's taken me a while (almost a month! 🫣) to share pictures of Davy's bday party, but I really wanted to because I was so thankful about the way it turned out. 

I used to (before my injury) look forward to bdays and parties and plan with excitement. Now I dread them, knowing my kids will want a party. 

Three days before Davy's bday, I sent out an invitation. A surprising number of friends came, considering it was a weekday. The day before, I asked a whatsapp group of homeschooling (and awesome!) moms I had, if they could help with activities. One of them MADE THE CAKE. An impressively delicious one. Another got materials and organized two activities/crafts (see second and third pics). The others brought food and their presence. I took NOTHING. Not even a bag of chips. Such is my life right now. Davy was overjoyed and had the best party ever. 

God has cured me almost completely and I can walk. However, for some reason, I am still tired, on pain medication, unmotivated, sad most of the time and need a lot of help from other people. Maybe permanently. Why would God put me in a place where I am constantly asking for help?

I'm not sure, but maybe to be thankful for all help passed our way and to remind others: we all need to ask for help and be thankful when it comes. 

Amazing Grace, indeed

This was a little piece of Heaven I experienced on a Saturday in June. It was the second time we visited these friends' house. The first time was a year ago and we had never met in person... only online! We felt such hospitality and warmth that we felt we were family. Last year, I realized this family does what I've been wanting to do in theory/dreams and have never successfully/naturally/organically implemented at our house. They are also a bilingual family (father is Irish), the mom also writes (but actually BOOKS... something, again, I only think of doing in theory), they also don't use electronics individually, at least not while we were there and each child plays an instrument. Every night, after dinner, they sing songs together in the living room, read the day's mass readings, reflect together on them and finish with the rosary. This is so simple to them and so COMPLEX to others like me (and you, I'm sure!) that they actually started a movement: https://www.familiasdecana.pt/

This upcoming weekend they are having a family camp, in tents. Let me know if you want more information!

Anyway, after lunch, they nonchalantly took out their instruments, shared some songs the oldest daughter had composed (I know... whaaaaat) and asked what we wanted to sing. They taught Adelaide (and me!) how to play along, harmonizing, when someone starts playing something. You either hear what key the song is in, or ask if your ears are like mine, and play notes from that scale. Especially the I, IV and V. Simple enough, right? 

Sometimes the sisters stay up late playing together, composing and improvising, on their porch with an amazing view. And, unlike the rude neighbors I have heard of here in Lisbon who ask people to STOP practicing music (yes, even if it's during the day), their neighbors say, play more! 

Beach bums

Life seems like it has been going rough for us, but we have these amazing moments in between that lift our spirits. Today at the end of the day we went to #praiadatorre and it was just FUN. We were all in playful moods and played with each other. There was a natural pool, formed in the sand, where the water was warm. We felt like we were in the Carribean or in Hawaii! Adelaide and Davy were the dolphins we were having a "swim with the dolphins" experience with. Davy dolphin was actually a crocodile!

Do you need nice experiences (trips, beach, etc) to be well or if you are well, you will enjoy experiences? What do you think? 

I definitely think the latter. You can be well in a prison cell (look up St Paul) or in a concentration camp (look up Saint Maximillian Kolbe). Two people can live the same experience in very different ways. 

So I guess the real question is: how do we get well? That's what we're doing here on this life journey! We are all in need of healing. All life long. Physical and spiritual and emotional and mental (mental healing=truth)!!! 

Christians have a different answer to this question than the worlds': prayer and sacraments.