Just Keep Posting

One of my favorite lines in Pixar's Finding Nemo is when Dori sings, "just keep swimming, just keep swimming". I so often think I should just get rid of this blog, but then something happens and I find myself inspired to write again. The latest inspiration would be the changes that have happened in our family the last couple of months along with what I've been reading. Because of this, I've decided to "just keep posting" even when I am dreadfully inconsistent.

I'll start with the kids- 

Cari moved back home in the spring. Mostly good, but sometimes a bit tough for her to not have her own space. It's been great to see the beautiful and creative things she's making while working at The Quilted Forest. She's also been singing a bit more at Sunday Mass which has been a blessing for all who hear her lovely voice.

Josh graduated from Thomas More in May. We all got to attend his graduation (which is a whole post in itself). He's hoping to go to seminary this fall at Mt. Angel and start the road to becoming a priest for the archdiocese of Portland. 

David finished his first year at Christendom and is enjoying watching World Cup soccer with his dad plus working part time.

Mary's finished her first year at Chemeketa, and is teaching at the salle along with working over the summer.

Now to Brian- he's been helping out around the house while I've been gone so much (see next paragraph). He's also spending the summer figuring out what classes to take this fall at Chemeketa to get his vineyard management degree next year.

As for me, work has been a bit busier over the last few months. In March, I started helping my mom with her business, 

On The Stitch.

She's been sewing since she was a little girl, and her latest venture is a longarm quilting/fabric art business. It's been really fun learning how to machine quilt, and it helps me use both sides of my brain which doesn't always happen. I actually have to do some math-like work while at the same time be creative when figuring out just what we are wanting a quilt to look like. It's a great new experience for me & getting to work with my mom has been a special joy!  

 
 
 


 

My seasonal baking  job out at Fordyce Farms started a couple weeks ago- it's taken me a bit of time to get back into the hang of Mr. F's kitchen, but I am glad to be back.

Of course, I am still teaching fencing which has been great this year. We changed our name in May to Salem Fencing Club-

be sure to check out our new very cool website! I've gotten to work with some terrific people and look forward to going to the salle every day that I work there!

    

 

Thankfully, even with all if this going on, I have been able to keep my devotional life, such as it is, going. I've read some amazing books over the last few months, including The Power of the Ring by Stratford Caldecott, Too Many Cooks by Emily Franklin, and Jesus of Nazareth part 3 by Pope Benedict. The latest to earn a place on my dresser is The Little Oratory by David Clayton and Leila Lawler. It is not only a charming book, but it contains much more wisdom than I had expected.   

Speaking of charming, I've also discovered Leila and her daughter's website, Like Mother Like Daughter. If you only have a few minutes to read a blog during your day, make it this one. Filled with insights, advice (really good advice like you'd get a from a dear friend or auntie), great ideas and lovely photos. 

All of this has helped me realize why I am really keeping the blog. I am able to record my "life journey" and hopefully offer some inspiration to those of you who chance upon Mangia Mamma. I plan on adding at least a recipe or two a week as we are always trying new things at the Keatley house (aka The Burrow according to most of my children.) Plus, I think it's helpful for me to be able to write in order for me to put down some of my thoughts on what it's like to live as a Catholic revert, semi-empty nester and woman who has the opportunity to do so many different things that she loves. With that all being said, take some time today to find inspiration in the everyday parts of your life~ Just keep doing whatever it is you are doing!

Following the Lenten-Brick Road with Catholic Sistas!

This year for Lent, I'm taking part in Catholic Sistas Instagram Photo a Day Challenge. It's been very thought provoking this far as I am supposed to take photos representing their word of the day. I've actually used some of David's photos too as he seems to have his phone at the ready more than I do. I want to also be sure to try to write some of my reflections this Lent, if for nothing else, to keep me thinking about more than myself and what's going on in my life.

So here's the first five days:

Day 1- Dust

Mary and I went to 7 a.m. Mass as she had school in the morning and I was going to work at my mom's. Father Holden imposed ashes on me. He did a pretty good job since they ended up lasting for the entire day, reminding me from dust I had come and to dust I would return (singing alleluia, alleluia).

Day 2-Virtue

David shaved his head into a mohawk for an Ash Wednesday penance. I know some people wouldn't think that's a big deal, but for a kid who can be a bit obsessive about how his hair looks, it made a difference for him.

Day 3-Test

This is a close up of a beautiful and tender print that Joshua owns. To me it shows the ultimate test of a mother's love. When I start to think of how much I love my kids, I realize it is nothing compared to the love our Blessed Mother had for her Son and how it really shows in this piece.

Day 4-Faith

Just a snippet of the collection we have amassed of amazing books by Catholic authors. We've got a whole bookshelf, but there are two more full up in the boys' room (I can't really claim them since they do belong to Josh and David, but I can read them). It's so much fun finding books that help us to grow in our Faith, and I'd love to have enough to fill up more shelves!

Day 5-Eucharist

David and 14 classmates from Christendom headed up to The Bronx yesterday for a week-long missions trip working with the Fransican Friars do the Renewal. This was a photo of David's he sent me today of their chapel. Please pray for the kids and the time they will be spending working alongside these amazing friars while helping some of our nation's poorest folks!

For more great photos, visit @CatholicSistas on Instagram!

A Couple of Amazing Couples

My parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Saturday! We were able to throw together a fun "Route 66" diner-food party for them. It was really great seeing my parents so happy. Instead of waxing on about it, I'm going to have you check out this amazing post from Cari at OregonicGirl. I will, however, share a couple of photos of the happy couple~

Mom and Dad, circa 1964...

 ...and Mom and Dad, 2014!

I often forget how rare anymore it is for couples to stay married for 50 years, but so many people were surprised and pleased about my folks. I know they've been through a lot of stuff (that would take more than a book or two worth of memoirs), and I am really happy they have not only stayed married, but remained friends. Way to go, Mom and Dad~ love ya both lots!

While I am writing on great marriages, I want to introduce you to another amazing couple, Blessed Emperor Karl Von Habsburg and Empress Zita, his beautiful wife, who has been declared a Servant of God. I had learned about them a while ago on Crisis Magazine in an article written by one of Joshua's professors at Thomas More, Dennis Kitzinger. I hadn't thought about them for a while, and then I came across another article about their amazing marriage  in The Imaginative Conservative. The articles are both outstanding, but what is even more awe-inspiring was their marriage. The love they had for each other as well as The Lord and the faith they kept during even during horribly tragic circumstances is just incredible. Their family legacy still continues in a story about Archduke Imre (one of the couple's great-grandsons) and his wife, Her Imperial and Royal Highness Kathleen on The Catholic Beat. I hope I've shared enough to get you to read their stories! 

Emperor Karl and Empress Zita on their wedding day, 1911

With marriages like those of my parents as well as  Blessed Karl and Servant of God Zita, those of us who are married today have something to strive for in our relationships. Thanks to all of you who have paved the way for all of us who want to have marriages that are also friendships, but even more so, marriages that glorify God and bring Him honor.

You Gotta Have Friends

After procrastinating for almost two weeks, I finally took the time to call my very dear friend, Debbie, who lives with her amazing husband and six terrific kids in a wonderful house settled in the picturesque Steilacoom, Washington. She and I haven't talked for probably a year, so we had some major catching up to do! What followed after she picked her phone up (thankfully; I thought she may not after I took so long) was an almost 3 hour long conversation filled with much laughter, oohs and ahs about how our respective kids are doing, and a bit of seriousness too. After finally hanging up, my heart was so full of gratefulness and love for our friendship that it has affected the rest of my day in a very positive way.

Virgin Martyrs- companions of Saint Ursula

Many of the great saints have had friends who were an integral part of their faith and their lives. Saints Perpetua and Felicity; Saints Francis and Clare; Saints Issac Jogues, Jean de Brebeuf and Companions; & Saints Paul Miki and Companions are just some of these. Of course, these saints were really holy people (as Josh would say, "That's why they're saints!"), so they took their friendships seriously. 

As I get closer to turning 50 49 next month, I am realizing how important it is to not only have good friends, but to be sure to stay caught up with each others' lives. These saints have inspired me to start taking my friendships a bit more seriously. I guess I've now said it, so my friends better be ready for me to work better on staying connected. When I tell a friend, "We need to get together for coffee.", I need to get out the calendar and pick a date instead of saying we'll do it, "when we've got some free time". It may be difficult at first, but I think once we actually do it, getting together will come a bit more easily.

As GK Chesterton said,“Because our expression is imperfect we need friendship to fill up the imperfections.” So do whatever it takes to get together with your friends. If they live far away, call, video chat, write an email or letter~ do something to stay caught up in their lives. As Donkey from shares with Shrek, "You gotta have friends!"