Children's Liturgy of the Word

See how excited Katherine is?  That's because she made her headband during Children's Liturgy of the Word at Mass last Sunday.  This was a big accomplishment for us.  Our parish has Children's Liturgy of Word during the 9 o'clock Sunday Mass.  The kids go to the Parish Hall and learn about that day's Gospel while making crafts or coloring.  In the past, I've encouraged Katherine to go but at the last minute she gets scared and runs back to me.  She was always afraid to go by herself.  She's pretty shy and doesn't know any of the other kids in our Parish.  (I'm working on that.)  Last Sunday on the drive to Mass, I talked to Katherine about the Children's Liturgy of the Word.  She wanted me to go with her and I explained it was only for the kids, not the mommies and daddies.  She said she wanted her cousins to go with her which is a great idea.  The only problem with that idea is we don't have family in Sioux City.  I explained to Katherine that her cousins don't live in Sioux City and go to a different church.  She told me it was scary and I told her she didn't have to decide right then if she wanted to go.  She could decide at the last minute in church, which is what she did.  When it came time for the kids to gather, she said no, it was scary and she didn't want to go.  Suddenly she changed her mind.  I walked to the front of the church with her so she could get her blessing before leaving.  Standing next to us was a high-school girl.  I quietly asked if she was one of the helpers and she said she was.  "Katherine, this is one of the teachers.  She's going to help you make some fun crafts today," I told Katherine while pointing to the girl.  "Do you want to make some fun crafts today?" the girl asked Katherine.  When the blessing was complete, the girl took Katherine by the hand and they left the church.  I could tell Katherine was nervous.  She looked back a few times and had a nervousness in her posture as she walked out but she made it.  Even Father McLoud was impressed.  I kept an eye out for her when the kids started coming back into church.  It's left up to the kids to find their parents when the Children's Liturgy is done.  (I wish they'd do that differently.)  The same high school girl who took Katherine's hand to go to Children's Liturgy was walking with her again and holding her hand as they looked for me.  I gave Katherine a big wave and they both saw me.  Katherine came running over, wearing her headband.  We were both very excited.  Katherine's verdict on Children's Liturgy: It was fun but she missed me.

What I'm Reading, May 2016 edition

As mentioned in previous blog posts, I love to read.  With two little people running around, reading can be hard to squeeze in.  I usually read during my lunch hour and right before bed.  Here is what I'm currently reading and what's on my to-be read list:

On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder
I'm slowly reading my way through the Little House series. I finished Farmer Boy in April and started On the Banks of Plum Creek.  In this book, Laura's family has moved to Minnesota and is living in a dugout, to use Ma's words.  I'm not very far into to the book so I really can't offer much of a synopsis.  This is my before bed book and I'm really enjoying it.  The books are an easy enough read to help me relax before going to sleep and the chapters are just the right length too.

Hands Free Life: 9 Habits for Overcoming Distraction, Living Better and Loving More by Rachel Macy Stafford
This book is pretty interesting.  The subtitle is what drew me to the book.  I definitely need help overcoming distraction which seems to be ever present in our world.  I can't say that I've implemented each habit.  I'm not one to drastically overhaul our lives just because a book says to.  The book does provide some interesting things to think about and overall I've enjoyed the book.  The author does include a poem with each section or chapter, which I skip over.  I don't mind some poetry but Stafford's style is not my thing.  I also bought Stafford's other book Hands Free Mama: A Guide to Putting Down the Phone, Burning the To-Do List, and Letting Go of Perfection to Grasp What Really Matters!.  I probably won't read it immediately after finishing this book but I will add it to my list of books to read this year.

On My Bookshelf:
Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook for Milk Allergies, Lactose Intolerance, and Casein-Free Living by Alisa Marie Fleming
   I bought this book awhile ago when I needed to cut dairy out of my diet when Sean was a newborn.  His dairy allergy seems to have flared back up so I'm going to be revisiting this book.

By The Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder
  The next book in the Little House series.  It will be my before bed book.

Homer's Odyssey: A Fearless Feline, or How I Learned About Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat by Gwen Cooper
  I picked up this book at the Book Lover's Book Sale our public library puts on every year.  {A side note: This was the first year I went to the book sale and I'm totally hooked. Great books for a super cheap price, yes please!}  I'm a cat person so pretty much any book about cats will catch my eye.  I also love stories about people or animals overcoming the odds so a story about a blind cat really appealed to me.

What are you reading?