Truthfully, things are going great. And we love this girl! But I really am wondering how long it will take to be a person who once again can get her thoughts on paper. I have thoughts, ideas, concepts and well-analyzed, um, stuff, up there in my brain. Right now, it’s just not able to find its way out.
I am busy (aren’t we all!) and I’m finding in the midst of this crazy season that if I’m to stay sane (deep breath, and then one more) I really need to pace myself. Yesterday, in honor of the July 4 holiday, one television channel ran a Monk marathon and we took FULL advantage. We were worn out from a ton of really fun weekend celebrations and in order to avoid a major mommy meltdown I had to treat myself to some R&R (modified of course, because life with five boys isn’t going to sound like a spa). So I didn’t push it and we had a really nice day all around.
Soon and very soon it will all come together and I’ll feel a bit more up to speed, I hope. For now, I will do what I can, and then read the blogs of other writers who are in a less intense season. And I’ll fight off the envy I feel in reading their complete, well-thought arguments, insightful musings and all the other stuff.
Instead, I will now offer this lovely photo, taken by my lovely sister. This will run in an upcoming issue of Faith and Family Magazine, a look at my two recent productions.
Are you suuuuure you're a mother of six!? You look too rested to be that! Great pic of mom and daughter (and Baby Book!).
I just love all the contrasts within this wonderful photo!
It's so nice to see all the beautiful baby dresses. Does Isabel possess a single onesie? I'm not sure I could bear to put her in one myself, even for sleeping.
Great photo. You look amazing! Must be the running:)
too sweet!
Both your productions are amazing. I adored the book and the baby makes me crazy to meet mine! P.S. mama looks unbelievable!
I was hoping for a new picture of the princess.
So, so beautiful! Your blog could become "Baby Girl Ribbons-n-Ruffles" for the next year and I'd keep stopping by. I am really happy for you! Have been passing your book around to moms in my homeschool co-op. We all love it!
Dear Rachel,
I am hoping to offer you some words of encouragement from a non-mom. I am a 26 year old single lady, with my masters in theology of marriage and family and a job working for the Church. I am still being formed as such and I look forward to the state of life for which God has created me. Even as I am in a season where I have comparably sickening amounts of "free time" and I can't claim to be dealing with the same challenges as you, I absolutely love reading your blog because I think you and your family are positively amazing. I really appreciate the example and witness you give. I struggle with balancing the ideal with the real when it comes to the vocation of marriage and the living out of the domestic Church. Your writing really reveals the beauty and the goodness further fulfilled and lived out through the suffering and all of the little "defeats" that so easily lead to feeling emotional and overwhelmed when you are trying so hard to feel put together. You are a blessing to me because you continue, most especially in this season, to be an inspiration and a real comfort and instrument of peace and hope.
I just recently found your blog and I LOVE it! I have been a blogger for a while now and it seems difficult to find fun CATHOLIC mom blogs! There are tons and tons of protestant mom's who blog about their faith and their family, but I've been challenged to find many in the Catholic department. All that to say that I'm glad to have found you
Your family is beautiful and it's nice to hear that someone else feels overwhelmed at times. I also have a 3 month old daughter who has been very fussy, a 2 year old, and a 5 year old. Just those THREE make me feel crazy on most days!
Anyway, thanks for giving encouragement through your words!
God Bless,
Danielle at Living at Loud
I just read this quote by St. Teresa of Avila this morning, "the important thing is not to think much, but to love much." It seems you've got the loving down, so don't worry too much about the deep thinking!