{pretty, happy, funny, real}

*Capturing the contentment in everyday life*

Hosted by: Like Mother, Like Daughter

{pretty}

Fall has fallen!  Out on a walk with little guy, I found myself picking up leaf after beautiful leaf.  Just another thing to love about this time of year. 

{happy}

Stephen is always a happy boy when we have something involving tomato sauce for dinner.   Clean-up?  Perhaps not so happy.... but it is still a joy to watch him relish his dinner so much.

{funny}

In my previous post about Stephen's birthday party, I forgot to include a picture of one of his "gifts" from some good friends.  (Those of you who know us know who these two are.)   What made it even funnier is that Stephen had cut a new tooth, literally, that very morning.  Disclaimer:  We did not use the "Tooth Reliever" quite as directed.  ;)

{real}

Again, my 'real' turns out to be a choir song.  Just yesterday we started rehearsing Faure's Requiem in preparation for the All Saint's Day Liturgy.  Every year I am reminded of how much I love this piece.  Listen to the "Sanctus" movement.  I truly think that, upstairs in heaven, the angel choir director managed to get his hands on this piece and now the heavenly hosts use this particular Sanctus to praise God.  Maybe.  In any case, if you give it a listen, PLEASE don't stop until you hear the unbelievable transformation that happens after minute 2:30.   Enjoy. 

Choir Baby

A member of my church choir died over the weekend, and her funeral was today.  She was 95 and had been singing with us for a long time--quietly giving of herself and her music week after week.  She was such a beautiful and pleasant lady--always smiling.  Monsignor said in his homily that she was the only person he had ever visited in a hospital that was still smiling while hooked up to an intubator.   


I'm so glad our choir was there to honor her and give her a truly beautiful funeral Mass.  The music our director chose was lovely--peaceful and full of hope.  It reminded me of what a ministry music is--it brings an expression of comfort that mere words cannot achieve.  


I had to choose between attending the funeral with Stephen in tow, or missing it for fear that he'd be disruptive at such a solemn Mass.   He's been working on his "screeching" lately, and I had images of him letting loose a well-timed shriek during the eulogy.  Fortunately, I braved the first option, and Stephen proved me wrong.  He was so entranced by sitting with the choir and listening to the singing all around him that he completely forgot to make any noise at all.  :)  Such a great boy.... the only distraction he caused was by people looking at him rather than at our conductor.  He's learned how to be quite the charmer!


I was talking with the bass section lead afterwards, and he said that it was obvious how influential it was for Stephen that I was at home with him.  "He is just so content and happy with you, and his behavior reflects that."  It made me feel so good--an affirmation and reminder that nothing can replace what I am giving Stephen right now.  He has the security of knowing his mom is there-- all the time, without fail. 


Here's to the music of a long life well-lived, and here's to my choir baby!   

Music, Motherhood, and Mary?

I've been having a lot of fun setting this blog up, playing with colors and layout, and generally figuring out how to go about this blogging thing.  I'm also wondering what direction to take my posts.  I want to share aspects of my life and growth as a new mom, but I wonder if I have enough original content to add to the array of wonderful "mommy blogs" out there.  I also love music--through singing in my parish choir, teaching piano privately, and listening in my free time (free time? wait....) so I hope to incorporate that into my writing as well.  I'm also Roman Catholic and try to live my life accordingly, so my faith will be an integral part of my worldview.  


So my blog will be focused on..... music, motherhood, and living life as a Catholic?  Hmm.... we'll see how this plays out!