I unpacked the rest of my pre-pregnancy clothes this week and had such a fun time rediscovering my wardrobe.  As I pulled out skirts and shirts, I thought often to myself, “Oh, cute!  I forgot that I had this.”  It was like going shopping for new clothes, except that I already owned them and had to spend no money.

This unpacking was also a time to cull some items that had been languishing in my closet for a year.  I try to follow this rule–”If I haven’t worn this for six months, then I am not going to wear it, even though I bought it on sale and think that I might wear it eventually.”  I had to be tough with myself because there were a few things that I have held on to for a few years.  So, they are now in the give-away bin.

And, finally, as a celebration of back-to-normal clothing, I have treated myself to this lovely dress.  With a 25% off coupon, it is too good to miss.  I am also eyeing this one as a future purchase (Ooh, I just discovered that Mika Rose carries little girl dresses–check these out!).  Now, I will have to deliberate between wearing these dresses with boots and or just plain heels.  Choices choices.  I love being a girl.

All these things we’re seeing – E coli, mad cow, listeria, salmonella; this is nature screaming at us: “Enough!”- Joel Salatin, chemical-free farmer

via America’s chemical-free farming pioneer | Life and style | The Observer.

From my newly upgraded phone’s camera:

Blogging has been a bit light of late because of family responsibilities. Thanks for understanding.

A little update: Our daughter has recently been tantruming more frequently and obeying less frequently, a turn of behavior which caught both of us by surprise. From talking with friends, her behavior is more severe than an average 2.5 year old, but we have also talked with another foster-adopt family who have children her age and been encouraged because her behavior is “normal” for a child under these circumstances.

Our family responsibilities have thus been consuming the great majority of me and Katie’s time. Edmund continues to do well; some days he is pretty colicky, but others he cries just a little. Katie is a trooper and cares for him constantly, so she has not had  time to do much of anything at the computer other than triage emails. Your encouragement and suggestions to her in her last post were all very much appreciated. (BTW, Edmund is 1 month old today!)

Finally, amazing as it sounds, Katie and I have both seen a difference in our boys since their baptism. It hasn’t been enormous–no glowing halos hovering over their heads–but it has been enough of a change in their disposition for us to attribute it to the graces they received at baptism. Grace builds upon nature rather than eradicates it, and since their nature at this time in their lives is pretty immature, the grace only shows through so much, but we have confidence in God that as we rear them in the Faith, the seeds of faith, hope, and love which He sowed in their souls will begin to sprout and grow.

Thank you for your continued prayers and advice. God bless!

Baptist pastor Michael Spencer, known as “the Internet Monk,” is fighting cancer. Please say a prayer for him. From what I have read on his site, money is about to get tight as he is not able to work due to the disease’s effects, so also consider purchasing his new book as well. (I’ve not read it but am sure that it is a thoughtful, faithful work, as all of the writings on his blog are.)

A sufficiently grandiose title.

Catholic Apologetics and Faith Formation

I’ve got my first podcast up and running on iTunes! You can subscribe to it here.

It currently contains the first talk I gave on the Church during the Apostolic Age but should soon add the second talk about the early Church (focused on heresies, the first Church Fathers, and the first two Ecumenical Councils). If you have any problems subscribing, let me know.

The purpose of the class is to help form my fellow Catholics in the reasons for the Faith. You can read all the lecture notes, discussion questions, and links to additional resources for each class here on my main site.

This podcast is in its nascent stages–I envision eventually adding music and all the other little niceties that make listening to what is essentially a radio program more enjoyable. (Though I promise not to include the overplayed commercial that I keep hearing on Relevant Radio–”ISRAEL…ISRAEL…YOU’LL NEVER BEEEEEE THE SAME!”)

I’m eyeing one of these for this spring in hopes of catching a swarm. Hopefully I won’t lure a hive of Africanized [killer] bees though!

…try unsubscribing then subscribing again to the blog–this worked for me and now my Google Reader is not showing duplicate posts. Not sure what the problem was, maybe a glitch in the Matrix?

There’s something ironic here…

Al Qaeda leader Usama bin Laden has called for the world to boycott American goods and the U.S. dollar, blaming the United States and other industrialized countries for global warming, according to a new audiotape released Friday.

via Bin Laden Blames U.S. for Global Warming in New Tape – Middle East Map | News | Crisis – FOXNews.com.

I’m heartened to see that our terrorists today aren’t the cold, single-minded, psychotically evil types but instead have more nuanced, environmentally-sensitive personalities.

I know that I am starting to feel normal again.

I bought a new book today, “Render Unto Caesar” by Archbishop Charles Chaput (I keep trying to convince Devin to move us to Denver) and am beginning the re-reading of an old favorite, “Religion and the Rise of Western Culture” by my most favorite author, Christopher Dawson.

In addition, Devin and I talked about our family farm dream today, for the first time in a long time.  We definitely can’t wait to have those five acres for our little men to run.

And, I remembered that I like to bake and began thinking about what kind of muffins I’ll make.

One final glimpse of normalcy?  I just twiddled away a half-hour reading blogs.

Edmund is four weeks old now, and it sounds like Katie is feeling better.