I'm finally rounding out my Cistercian Monastery series with the Glorious Mysteries.  Whew!

Jesus knows how I feel:

I like how the sculptor made His robes look like they're billowing.  It's stone!  How do you carve stone into something that looks like it's fluttering in the wind???  If I could high-five the artist, I would.  

The next two mysteries are different from all the other sculptures in that they are done in mid-relief style.  I thought it was an odd choice given all the others are statues, but it was probably a lot cheaper to go this route than creating individual statues for all the saints present for these two events.

First up is the Ascension.  

Five apostles are chosen to represent the lot of them.  Again, I'm pretty sure this was done to cut down on both space and expense.  The image of Jesus is almost exactly the same as the form used for the Resurrection and the apostles are in various states of adoration.  

You can't really tell from the photo, but this is actually a very tall relief. When you're standing in front of it, you have to look up at it, and it does seem as if it's stretching up to the sky.  Given how blue the sky was that day, it seemed that Christ was ascending right off the sculpture.  

Pretty awesome.  

Vincent tried to give one of the apostles a high five because of how his hand was sculpted.  That was funny.  The lake also stretches out behind this one.

The next relief is a large image of Pentecost.  I admit to being a fan of this one.  Here's a detail of it:

I love how Our Lady is both centered and raised above the apostles.  Given her status as Daughter, Spouse and Mother of God, it's fitting that she's got a large halo and is so obviously set apart from the men who she gently guided as they began building the Church her Son began.  Here's the full image:

The next statue is probably my least favorite, but I think it's just me being picky.  She's looking up into Heaven, but she looks resigned.  I'd imagine she'd looked over-joyed... not just transfixed in a "I'm ready, come get me!" type stare.  I almost feel this would have been her calm, reflected pose when she said "Fiat" to His Incarnation.  But I digress.  Here she is in all her Assumption-y glory:

Finally, the next statue is my favorite of the Glorious Mysteries.  The Coronation of Mary looks like Our Lady of Mount Carmel.  See for yourself:

She's officially Queen of the Universe (you can see her standing on the moon, planets and earth.  She's enthroned upon a gorgeous detailed throne and hands are open in welcome.  She's so regal, gentle and beautiful.  I love this one!

And that, my friends, is FINALLY the end of my Cistercian virtual tour.  I hope you enjoyed!

My poor kid was so sick last week!  His fever just wouldn't quit.  I ended up taking him to the ER late Friday night because his breathing was so awful.  He had some fluid in his lungs.  My poor little munch!  

He missed a whole week of school.  This is the first time he's actually registered that he wasn't feeling well.  When the doctor asked him where he hurt, he replied, "My esophagus!"

Ha ha ha.  That anatomy app I purchased was totally worth it.  The doctor got quite the chuckle out of that one.  

I made this diaper cake for a coworker's baby shower.  I always enjoy putting this sort of stuff together.  I'm not a baker by any stretch of the imagination, but you'd be amazed at the things I can do with a few diapers.  Ha ha ha!  

This is our first office baby, so we're all pretty excited (at least the women are).  I can't wait to meet her!  This is my coworker's first child, too, so keep her in your prayers. She's due in a few weeks and is nervous (as all new mothers are).  

The shower was so much fun.  I think Carla (the new mom) was surprised.  She was definitely super appreciative that we organized the event for her.  Good times!

Had a REALLY disturbing experience on Friday night before taking Vince to the hospital.  I went out with my friend, Theresa, to a brewery for dinner.  Great food, nice service, REALLY ridiculous dining neighbors.  

While Theresa and I were enjoying our food, an older woman (45-50) and a younger man (maybe 25?) sat next to us at an adjacent table.  Their table was likely a foot and a half from ours.  The woman was obviously inebriated, and apparently they were on a first date.  She kept smacking him across the table and repeating, "You're so HOT!  You don't think I'm gorgeous.  Tell me that I'm gorgeous again!"

AY.

It was embarrassing.  If that wasn't bad enough, she slipped off her shoe and placed her foot against his lap (we were outdoors, no table cloths, and again... we were less than 2 feet away).  I started giving Theresa the "We need to get out of here NOW" stare, so she started pounding back her drink.  

The woman then suggests they take a selfie (REALLY, lady?  A SELFIE?  Just stop).  She threw herself into his lap and put her hands where her foot had just been.  She then said, "This would be easier if you'd open your legs" and then loudly declared, "I'm going to bed you tonight."  (WHO SAYS THAT?!)

GAG.

I immediately paid the tab and left.  I couldn't stop balking about it the whole way home. It's almost a week later and I'm STILL balking about it!  Who DOES that?!  

That guy was young enough to be her son, and she was acting like a tweeny-bopper fawning over One Direction.  I was so incredibly embarrassed for her.  As for the guy, he didn't seem to mind anything her aggressiveness nor her inebriation (for obvious reasons). I just can't... 

They were in a VERY public place during the dinner rush.  They were in VERY close proximity to us and the table on the other side of them.  The woman was loud and obnoxious, and the guy did nothing to point that out.  I almost felt like looking around for Candid Cameras because the situation seemed so ludicrous.  

Ick.  Please never let me turn into that when I get older.  Ick.  Please never let Vincent allow himself to be as degraded as the yahoo with that woman.  IIIIIIICK.  

What are you even supposed to do in that situation?  "Excuse me, folks, but could you take your lustful stupidity down a notch?  Normal people would like to enjoy their dinners."

When did it become acceptable to act like this in public?!

I got the opportunity to take Vince to see Medieval Times.  We had SO MUCH FUN!  At first he was terrified due to the over-stimulation, but after we got him focused on his own shouting (cheering on the black night you see us standing with).  

There were nine of us altogether.  The three kids had a blast and us parents were getting giddy just watching them enjoy themselves. Definitely one of the best nights we've had in a long time.  

My son said the strangest thing to me en route to daycare yesterday, and I was so caught off guard that I almost pulled the car over to allay my own confusion.  

He said, "Mommy, I'm peach."  

He was referring to the color of his skin because he uses the peach crayon for his face and body (also known as circles 1 and 2).

I said, "Yes."

He replied, "I want to be brown."

Curious, I asked, "Vincent, why do you want to be brown?"

He replied, "All of my friends are brown."

I said, "Vincent, is your heart good?"

"Yes, Mommy."

"Do your friends have good hearts, too?"

"Yes, Mommy.  They are very, very nice."

"So it doesn't matter what their color is.  It doesn't matter what color you are.  What matters is how you treat people.  If your heart is good, YOU are good, okay?"

"Okay, Mommy."

He seemed content with that, but I was so caught off guard!  I honestly didn't think a thing about skin color until I was closing in on 8th grade.  I was a minority in my elementary school, and that fact never actually dawned on me until someone from high school brought it to my attention when he looked at my graduation picture.  He said, "You only had 5 white kids in the whole class?"

Looking back, I remember feeling instantly defensive and incredibly stupid.  It had NEVER occurred to me that I was a minority until he pointed it out, and I felt stupid for never making that connection.  Then I felt doubly stupid for thinking my color-blindness was something to be ashamed of.  

It makes me sad that Vincent is already aware of color.  Granted, he obviously doesn't think about it negatively, but the fact that such a thing is on his radar at all surprises me.  I asked his teacher if they did a lesson on differences or something, but she was just as surprised as I was.  

His class is a good mix of kids, and I like that.  I grew up in a diverse community and I want the same for Vincent.  He's got friends of both genders, of several ethnic backgrounds, and doesn't care if you collect Star Wars or Star Trek memorabilia.  He loves everyone regardless, and I love that.  I'd love to know what spurred that comment, though.  I really would.  

Ah well.  At least he seems satiated for the time being.  Dunno what I'll say if it comes up again, though.  

My SIL just posted this photo of Alliya and I.  As soon as I saw it, I recognized the setting. This was taken as John, Vince and I were leaving our cousin's wedding.  I sought out Alliya and knelt down to give her a big hug.  I wanted to thank her for giving me the rose out on the dance floor.  I'm so glad my FIL caught this moment because to me, it conveys so much more than Aunt Gina smiling at Alliya.  It's me - on my knees with gratitude - beaming up at my source of Divine Providence and Consolation... my hands around her waist and her hands on my shoulders.  

I love that she's in Blessed Mother blue to boot.  

:)

We had a loud thunderstorm last night that got Vince all sorts of upset.  He didn't want to go to bed, and I can't really blame him.  The thunder was so loud it shook the house, and the lightning looked like it was going to strike our tree any second.  

So I told him the same thing I used to tell my students who were afraid of storms:  Say "Cheese" and smile for the angels!

The lightning is the flash from their cameras and the thunder comes from their drums as they tried to get his attention.  

:)

As you can see from the video above, it ended up working pretty well.  He wasn't scared anymore and he ended up enjoying having his picture taken so much!  

The garden leads you directly from one mystery into another, which I like.  There are areas for you to sit or kneel for prayer, but the path simply continues to follow in the footsteps of Christ on the road to our salvation.  

I really like that.

This set of mysteries is my favorite of the bunch.   I just love the expressions of Christ.  The artists did a fantastic job.  They really, really did.

The Scourging was a little sad and confusing for Vincent.  He couldn't understand why Jesus ("a good guy") had His Hands tied up.  Vincent went behind Him and tried to undo the rocky tethers that bound Him.  I explained that Jesus wasn't trapped anymore, but that when He was on earth, He took the beating so that His friends didn't have to.  That made Him a hero to everyone.  Vincent understood that, but it left him kinda quiet for the next couple minutes.

The Crowning with Thorns is simply Christ seated with with a simple robe, His Hands still bound, and a sad (and regal) expression on His Face.  The way the artists placed His Hands enables the faithful to leave behind flowers as a sort of scepter.  Of the mysteries, I think this is my favorite.  It's nothing like the Coronation of Mary, but the way the artists created the two, they obviously parallel one another.

Next was Christ taking up His Cross, and again the expression on His Face is remarkable.  

Walking along the path a bit father I saw a huge chapel-like shed which stood directly across from the Nativity "stable" from the Joyful Mysteries.  Obviously drawing yet another parallel, the Crucifixion placement and artistry again highlights a theological truth.  Christ was born to die on a Cross.  He came into the world to die saving it.  Incredible.

Stay tuned for the Glorious Mysteries.  Hopefully it won't take me a month to cycle back through and update you!  :)  

How often have you gotten stuck driving behind a car with a busted up exhaust?  

It kicks back a disgusting black cloud of gross that you inevitably have to drive through.  If you don't already have your ventilation set to "circulate in-car," you're punished with breathing in the putrid fumes.  


Can you tell how much I hate this circumstance?

Well, color me incredulous today.

I was driving into work when I noticed a line of five cars driving placidly behind a large truck spewing VOLUMES of filth into the air.  

The fumes were black, but not one of these cars moved to get around the offending vehicle. 

INCREDULOUS!

I wasn't going to wait around for them to come to their senses.  I switched lanes and drove right past all six of them.  

The rest of the way to work, I kept wondering why the other five vehicles didn't follow suit. There was a completely open lane to their left.  They definitely weren't following the truck for directions.  Why, then, would all of them be content to remain behind a truck spewing poison into their cars?

It was then that I realized how often we each do this in our own lives.  

How often do we remain content to follow a leader that is so obviously spewing something dangerous?  

I'm a big culprit when it comes to bad language.  I slip into using terrible language when I'm surrounded by others who do the same.  Oh Lord, I'm terrible when it comes to this. 

There are clear paths that I could easily steer myself onto that would take me past the foul-language, but I remain.  Why?  Because sometimes it's easier to coast along and not demand better for oneself.  

And that's a terribly embarrassing thing to realize about yourself.  But realize it I did as I scoffed at the other "idiot drivers" who didn't see it.  *Cringe*

We do this so often in our lives.  Personal relationships, work relationships, even political ones.  Our leaders often try to shove unsavory fumes down our throats and we allow it. We can and must do better for ourselves.  We need to seek out the other paths that take us beyond the poisonous actions of those we are behind.  

One bad exhaust and here I go waxing political.  In truth, though, I think the analogy works.

I was at a wedding this past weekend for my cousin.  It was a nice little ceremony with a splendid reception. 

However, I have to admit that during the ceremony, I wasn't quite sure when the rite of marriage actually took place.  
In a Catholic ceremony, it's cut and dried.  You know precisely when you've completed your vows and are husband and wife.  

In my cousin's ceremony, however, I had absolutely no idea when the union actually took place.  There were two sets of vows, there was a sand ceremony that "symbolically united" them (similar to unity candles), and there were two blessings offered.  There was also the ring-exchange.  My niece kept asking me "Are they married yet?  Are they gonna kiss now?" and I had no idea what to tell her because I didn't know, myself!

Granted, that's not a huge deal in the scheme of things.  It was a nice ceremony - much nicer than some others I've attended - but it made me appreciate my own Catholic ceremony so much more.  

I knew precisely when our Sacrament was taking place.  Though our vows weren't "super unique" or funny, or quirky, or any other number of extravagant things couples try to put forth to show everyone just how special their love for one another is, I now fully appreciate the timeless aspect of our simple (and deeply rich) vows.  After all, these vows have been around for millennia.  They've provided the basis for countless blessed unions.  Our marriage, in effect, became a part of this tapestry.  It's a comfort to know that our vows are the same ones made by the strong family lineages that produced us.  They are like tethers to our ancestry.

Just a musing.  Again, I thought my cousin's ceremony was nice, but it struck me as odd that I wasn't sure when the actual marriage took place given the amount of circumstantial "fluff" that's sole purpose was to give everyone the warm fuzzies.  And I'm cool with warm-fuzzies, but I feel that for a marriage, you should KNOW when the rite is taking place.  It's such an important step in your life (two becoming one and all) that there shouldn't be confusion as to when the moment comes to pass.  

Ah well.  Regardless, prayers of blessing for them, please - they're good people.  :) 

I admit I had no idea this was part of our national anthem.  However, I'm not altogether surprised it's gone "missing" during our various celebrations and sporting events.

Kudos to this marine.  Kudos to those who stood up to join him with their hands over their hearts.

Well done Francis Scott Key.  Well done.