Has it really been 3 days?

Time flies when you are trying to catch up and dealing with sickie poo babies!

We've had lots of fun over the past three days. We discovered that Lukie is allergic to something, it might be soap, it might not be. What we do know is that he is covered in hives and so drugged up on Benedryl that he falls asleep at the drop of a hat. (I think we are going to back off on the Benedryl and see what happens.) We've also learned that feeding tubes are amazing things. Daddy is starting to feel better with his feeding tube in place. We also discovered that Gracie and Luke do not like cheeseburgers. There is no reason to elaborate on that one. Just imagine your worst time at McDonald's and multiply it by 100. That was our visit yesterday!

Today, I am here to talk about Ash Wednesday. I'm behind on my 12 visits to Mass and I had to be reminded by Bill Handel, of all people (he's Jewish), that today is Ash Wednesday. And, since today is Ash Wednesday, it is also the beginning of Lent. I have not been a good practicing Catholic in some time now. Mass was always something we did as a family. When I moved away from my family, I accidentally moved away from Mass and practicing my faith as well. It wasn't on purpose. It just, well, happened.

One of my friends, Caryn, is one of the most spiritual people I know. She is dedicated to her faith and to living her life honoring Jesus' teachings every day. Yesterday, she posted on her blog about how she is going to use the season of Lent to become a better person. I liked it so much, that I have adopted it. She said:

So, the season of Lent is upon us once again. I usually give up sweets or coffee and although those are sacrifices, let's face it, not really life changing. This year, I am going to do some "spring cleaning of my soul" by getting rid of the materialism that seems to be swallowing me whole. I feel like I go from one worry to the next and although I am not worried about getting a new Mercedes I do worry about material possessions. I worry about things getting broken, stolen, lost and used up. I think that I am too focused on what we "need" and not what we have. I am going to spend this season of Lent by purging my home and mind of "stuff." I am going to get rid of one item a day that I do not need and replace it with one prayer for something I have been blessed with. We live in an amazing world and I am going to try to appreciate it more.

Can you imagine? Getting rid of the idea that we "need" this or that. Getting rid of the stuff we don't need and replacing it with a prayer. What a fantastic idea: to become more spiritual by letting go of the superfluous stuff in our lives. This is definitely something I need right now.

Maybe this will also lead to something else: a cleaner house. :)