Birthdays and Lego Sets

No matter how many birthdays come and go, a LEGO set still makes the best gift. And in solidarity with our beloved Italy, the LEGO® Fiat 500 was perfect. Vintage character, iconic style, and a roof you can roll back to enjoy the Italian countryside.

A reminder that la dolce vita will return.

#lego #FIAT500

Stations of the Cross ... Bringing them Home during the Coronavirus Pandemic

Lenten Friday during a Pandemic. Sharing a few ideas on how to pray the Stations of the Cross from home ...

Our favorite way to pray the Stations involves placing fourteen votive candles across our mantle, with a black and white etching of each station taped below. Then, as we read a station we blow out the corresponding candle until, when the last one is blown out, we sit in the darkness in silent contemplation. On Easter morning we gather to read the 15th station, and instead of blowing out a candle, we light an Easter candle in celebration.

As a family, we love praying the Stations of the Cross using candles; it encourages active participation, and by reading aloud, lighting candles and then blowing them out, we become part of a ritual as old as time itself.

Here is a link for the etchings.

This year I decided to try something different. Rather than using our mantel, I placed fourteen tea lights in a French bread serving board and, as we sat around the kitchen table, we took turns reading a Station and then ceremoniously used a candle snuffer to put out the candle.

Another idea is to pray the Stations of the Cross virtually via Skype or FaceTime. I plan to do that with my parents. We will also have our traditional Sunday dinner together via Skype.

There are many versions of the Stations of the Cross. Sometimes we like to keep things traditional, sometimes informal, sometimes short and sweet. Here are some ideas:

St. Alphonsus Liguori
Scriptural Stations of the Cross
Stations of the Cross for Children

The Stations below are from my childhood. They are perfect for fidgety toddlers or antsy teens and are often a springboard for discussion.

Finally, Pope Francis gives us 8 reasons why we should pray the Stations of the Cross, and no matter if we meditate upon them in church or around the kitchen table, the important thing is to enter into the story, follow in Christ's footsteps as he heads to that cross on Calvary, and then be guided from that cross to resurrection. 

FIRST STATION: JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH
Jesus, we stand in silence as you are condemned
by Pilate. Standing in silence is not new to us; we have stood in
silence as you went hungry by our tables, as you were orphaned
in our wars, as you walked powerless in our world. We stand in
silence because, like Pilate, we are bowed, broken, and afraid.
Give us the courage to speak in your behalf. Amen.

SECOND STATION: JESUS ACCEPTS HIS CROSS
Jesus, we watch you bear you cross and do not
understand. We are afraid of suffering. We flee sickness,
sorrow, and pain. But you carrying your cross says something
different about suffering. Help us to follow you even when we
do not understand. Amen.

THIRD STATION: JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME
Jesus, you have fallen with your cross. Everywhere
we see signs of weakness: in our Church, our nation, our world.
We see dissension, controversy, turmoil. We do not understand.
Our faith falters. Help us know and understand your strength
beneath the cross. Amen.

FOURTH STATION: JESUS MEETS HIS MOTHER
Jesus, we are moved by Mary’s love for you. She
saw beneath your grime and agony. She saw your hidden beauty.
We know she does the same for us. We need to be understood
these days, and with Mary we are not alone. Amen.

FIFTH STATION: SIMON HELPS JESUS
Jesus, we have to admire Simon. He took up
your cross and followed you. He had so little doubt, so
little hesitation. We see you suffering all around us: in
the poor, the powerless, the misunderstood. We are often
hesitant to come to your aid. We find so many excuses.
Grant us the wisdom and the courage to help the least of
our brothers, and in doing so we help you. Amen.

SIXTH STATION: VERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF JESUS
Jesus, you rewarded Veronica for her courage.
You left your face upon her veil. Help us forget our fears
and reach out to serve others so you will leave the imprint
of your face upon our lives. Amen.

SEVENTH STATION: JESUS FALLS THE SECOND TIME
Jesus, you must have been discouraged by your
second fall. We, too, know discouragement. Our best efforts
sometimes end in failure, and life does not bring us peace. What
shall we do? We will imitate your example and try again …
even in the face of futility. Amen.

EIGHTH STATION: JESUS SPEAKS TO THE WOMEN
Jesus, in the midst of your sufferings you had
compassion for others and their pain. Too often we are so
self-centered. We want pity, kindness and understanding,
and yet, we are unwilling to do the same for others. Help us
forget ourselves. Awaken us to the pain of others. Amen.

NINTH STATION: JESUS FALL THE THIRD TIME
Jesus, your third fall is the beginning of your
death agony. Our world I filled with dying people: in war,
in famine, in hospitals, on highways. Many this day will die
alone. May our prayers be some comfort to the dying. Amen.

TENTH STATION: JESUS IS STRIPPED
Jesus, there is something fearful in thinking of
you stripped before the crowd. Even the privacy of clothing
is taken. You have given up everything for us. May we have
the grace to give of what we have to help our brothers and
sisters around us. Amen.

ELEVENTH STATION: JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS
Jesus, the pain of those nails was unjust. Your hands
which did such good and your feet which walked on errands of
mercy are now punished. You received little gratitude for the good
you did. Help us to be like you: to give, and ask nothing in return.
Amen.

TWELFTH STATION: JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS
Jesus, you have the greatest love for us. What
can we say in the face of it? We can only try to imitate
you by responding to the brothers and sisters you have
given to us to love. Amen.

THIRTEENTH STATION: JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN
FROM THE CROSS
Jesus, you are laid in the arms of your mother.
The agony is over, but resurrection is not yet. Your Father’s
plan requires patience. So it is with us. We reach moments
when only patience can carry us on. We know that something
better will come … but when? Help us find some of your patience
in our lives. Amen.

FOURTEENTH STATION: JESUS IS LAID IN THE TOMB
Jesus, the end of life is so definite. We fear it
deep within. We do not want to die, but help us understand
that our lives are but a prelude to a new life … a life with
you and your father. Amen.

O, Our Jesus, guide us from the Cross to the resurrection and teach us that evil shall not have the last word, but love, mercy and forgiveness. O Christ, help us to exclaim again: "Yesterday I was crucified with Christ; today I am glorified with Him. Yesterday I died with Him, today I live with Him. Yesterday I was buried with Him, today I am raised with Him." 

– Pope Francis, Good Friday, April 18, 2014

Good News during this Crazy Time

Last fall Jonathan started grad school with a plan: complete his course work, hold down a part time job in the accounting lab, and study for his CPA exam. His goal was to pass all four sections of the exam BEFORE he graduated in May.

And so he studied, and worked, and studied some more. 

When he was home for the Thanksgiving and Christmas, he got up every morning to study, only coming downstairs for lunch before disappearing again until dinnertime.

He took part one of the exam, and passed.

He took part two, then part three, and passed both. 

Jonathan's tax professor told him that if he passed the last section, he would not have to come back to class.

Yesterday Jonathan found out he passed the last part of the CPA exam. Only 12% of people who take the exam pass all four sections on the first try. 

It was good news during a time of canceled plans, social distancing, and self-quarantines. 

It was good news when faced with the fact that his entire college career came to a screeching halt--after five years, without any fanfare or celebration, school is over. The rest of the semester will be taught online and the entire campus has closed.

It was good news for someone who has worked hard. 

Four friends, heading to Myrtle Beach before all the craziness hit. 

All will graduate this May with a master's degree in accounting. 

All four already have jobs lined up in Atlanta, three with the same firm. 

How to have a Coronavirus pandemic, social-distancing, no school, stuck-at- home birthday

This is Timothy.

Everyone feel sorry for Timothy.

Today is his birthday.

Timothy is personally insulted that his birthday occurs in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, especially since it's his sixteenth birthday.

Timothy has been looking forward to being sixteen and has been diligently studying for his driving test. Except his testing appointment scheduled for next week was cancelled because of you-know-what.

Timothy, who always looks forward to his cereal bowl presents, feels cheated. His mom accidentally left them out on Monday after she went shopping, so when Timothy came home from school he saw them. His mom said, "Oh my gosh! Don't look! Don't look! Forget you saw them."

Too late.

When things like this happen Timothy likes to remind his mom about his Confirmation cake that said, "Happy Confirmation, JONATHAN!"

One of Timothy's favorite things to do for his birthday is pick a restaurant. This year he wanted to go to Bonefish Grill. This is NOT happening. His dad is grilling steaks because of you-know-what. Timothy likes steaks, but still ...

Timothy's older brother, Jonathan, sent him an Xbox game for his birthday. Except it hasn't arrived; in fact, the TWO presents his Mom ordered haven't arrived yet either. But his other older brother, Nicholas, came through. So there will be at least ONE present to open.

But Timothy is a good sport.

Timothy will open his cereal bowl presents and pretend he never saw them before, go for a birthday hike on the canal, do his dumb school work (his words), have a lunchtime Mo Willem's Doodle competition with his mom, finish designing his model airplane, play Xbox with his friends, eat a cowboy serving of a grilled steak, and open his ONE present today with the knowledge there'll be another to open tomorrow AND Friday.

And his birthday cake will not have JONATHAN written on top because there will be no birthday cake. Instead, there will be homemade chocolate chip cookies.

So be like Timothy who, despite a Coronavirus Pandemic, social-distancing, no school, stuck-at- home birthday, knows how to have fun anyway.

The "Funny-Not Funny" Speeding Ticket

When we were in Virginia last month, a lunchtime conversation turned to speeding tickets and how Emporia is NOTORIOUS for giving out fines. Especially to cars with out of state tags. Everyone at the table had a story.

Well, the conversation jinxed us because on the way home we went through Emporia and Joe got pulled over for speeding.

"We start giving fines at 10 miles over the speed limit, and you just hit that mark back there," said the not-so-friendly officer.

Joe was MAD. A four lane highway, on a Sunday morning with no one around, and he gets pulled over for just hitting ten miles an hour over the speed limit. He wanted to ask the officer if the radar had been recently calibrated because he swears he was only going 5-7 miles over, but I told Joe to hush, be polite, and sign the darn ticket. While I totally agreed with him, I had no desire to get stuck in Emporia trying to raise bail for a husband who was behind bars.

As we were driving away from that cursed town we Googled speeding ticket and Emporia and read all the angry comments on Tripadvisor from travelers who had been ticketed while driving through that area. It was funny, but it wasn't.

But let me tell you what's really funny: every few days we have been getting letters from lawyers with dire warnings that a speeding ticket "can affect your insurance rates, your job, and in some extreme cases, your freedom." (This was, by the way, a direct quote from one letter.) Some mentioned jail time and court appearances. They all promised to have the lowest fees of anyone around.

Huh. One lawyer charged a flat fee of $149.

For a $124 fine.

You do the math.

Anyway, as a responsible, law-abiding citizen I realize the moral of this story should be: Don't speed. But as a responsible, law-abiding citizen let me be even more specific: Don't speed in Emporia, Virginia.

Things I Never Thought I'd Say

"I'm headed to court with my first CASA case."

(last Friday)

Who, What, and Where (a coronavirus post)

We're all over the place lately, Corona Virus or not. And many of you have been asking about my relatives in Italy.

Joe ... is headed to Albuquerque, after which he will stop in Little Rock to spend the weekend with Nicholas. He is armed with a pack of Clorox wipes, hand sanitizer, and good ol' common sense.

Jonathan ... will be headed to Myrtle Beach next Sunday for his last official spring break before he graduates in May. On the way he will stop here with his buddies for lunch (and beach chairs), and I will supply him with Clorox wipes and hand sanitizer. As for good ol' common sense, they're on their own.

Nicholas ... just returned from a business trip to San Diego, and later this month he will travel to Florida. Again, the Clorox wipes and hand sanitizer.

Joe, Maria,  and Timothy ... are headed to Sedona, Arizona next month. Our plans have not changed.

My relatives in Italy ... ARE in one of the regions (Veneto) with the Corona Virus outbreak. So far, the city ofVerona has not been closed, but two cities to the east of them--Padua and Venice--are in the red zone and have been quarantined (you need special permission to travel in and out). Life goes on, despite the fact that schools are closed, public events are canceled, churches are closed (Mass is not even being celebrated in St. Peter's in Rome!), and weddings and funerals have been suspended. 

Coronavirus in the city of Romeo & Juliet

Empty tables in  Piazza della Signoria in Florence.

Photo by: Georgette Jupe-Pradier

A sparse crowd for the Pope's Angelus blessing