7QT Catholic Nerd stuff, job change, and a gift from Jesus

I'm linking up with Kelly at This Ain't The Lyceum   to give you this week's quick takes.  Are you ready?

(one)

The.Weather.You.Guys.
One part of me thinks I should be terrified about global warming and shifting weather patterns and the impact on the environment.
The other part of me is like, 'Whoa, Spring is AWESOME'
I truly become a different kind of mom when the weather is like this. We do stuff, the house is clean, the dishes get done, I'm nicer.  It's so great.
And the kids don't mind it one bit.

(two)

\I had to buy a new phone yesterday.  Well, my spouse would say I didn't HAVE to, I could have paid $200 to get the battery and screen fixed... but to me, if I was going to pay that much, I should just go ahead and get a new one.
Aaron's annoying, so he refuses to do payments plans for phones. So we have to pay cash.
It was a LOT of money. Like, I am pretty sure, when I was in high school, I could have got a cheap car for the amount I just spent on a new phone.
BUT dang.
I love iphones.  Apple has me hook, line and sinker.
Which is kind of stupid, because I am pretty sure their phones are made to crap-out after a couple years, so people upgrade.  Which makes sense if you do the payment plans, but we don't.
Anyway, I have a new phone.

(three)

No, the Pope didn't say 'It's better to be an atheist than to be a hypocrite'.  If that was the case we would all be really screwed, so we should be glad he didn't.  

What he ACTUALLY said was important though. And a really good call-on for us all.  The scandal of our personal sin on the community is something we should all keep in mind.  I try to, but I suck at being a Saint.  #workinprogress

In other news, as I said on 'the facebook'  THIS is why I don't trust the news.  This is why I am completely confident using terms like 'fake news', and this is why I think the media is more dangerous than other things people think are really dangerous.

(four)

Speaking of the scandal of sin..
I was pretty scandalized by the Catholic nerd world this week.  For those who don't know what I'm talking about, it's really too long to get into, so you should just skip this.  For those of you who do... here are a few of my take-aways for Grown Ups...

1.) We absolutely cannot expect young people to use social media wisely when so many adults clearly don't know how to.

2.) You should not write super controversial stuff on social media (as a grown up, public, Catholic) and then walk away form the conversation saying monitoring threads is impossible.

3.)  It's important to speak up against social media bullying.  Even if it's uncomfortable, and even if it doesn't make a difference.  A grown up called another grown up a b@#$% on a thread I saw.  I was really upset about it all day. I decided to write something, 'hey, you probably didn't need to say that' (or something like that).  The person what like, 'you're right, heat of the moment, I shouldn't have'.

And that made me feel good about humanity.

4.)  Some people are just not going to be nice on social media and it's important to just walk away when it is super gross.  So another grown up wrote, 'I would slap some sense into the wench'... speaking about a professor at our local seminary.  I wrote, 'yea, you probably shouldn't write stuff like that'... the person defended it.  I left the conversation.

Some people just don't know how to use social media.

5.) Saints fought and disagreed. It happens. It's okay.  But we should always be careful about the scandal we are causing others.  About the words we use and allow. We should be careful not to escalate drama in the social media world.  And we should be...

GROWN UPS.

That is all. Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.

(five)

I decided to leave my Parish Position. Starting March, 1st, I am no longer a Coordinator of Youth Ministry at the Parish level. And that's a really great thing for my family and a really great thing for the teens at the Parish I was working for, especially since the new CYM is amazing.
The thing is...
Working in Parish life is really, really hard. I'm actually not sure I will ever do it again.  It's hard for so many reasons, but principally, I think, because it's a lifestyle, not a job.  And my life style right now is being a mom, it can't be being a youth minister.  I told Aaron, I am honestly not sure I will ever work in Parish Ministry again.  That's not to say I won't work in Ministry...our BOLD MINISTRIES  reality continues to grow in a really healthy way, but I just can't hang in Parish life anymore.
I will still be working with the teens as a volunteer, but no more of this 'being in charge' at a Parish.  It's just too hard.

In other news, right now, send a thank you message to those who work in Parish life, it is no joke.
In still other news, I'm excited to have more time with my growing family.  

(six)

Are you a young adults (18-35)?
Do you live in Michigan, or around it?
If so, you should be coming to the Michigan Catholic Young Adult Conference  (If you click on the link, you should Aaron was like, "Yeah, you REALLY need to change your professional photo")

It's going to be awesome.  It's a lovely time of community, prayer, sharing and joy.   It's nice to be around people of faith, and if you haven't been in awhile, you are gonna wanna get on this.
Oh, and I'll be there, and I'm fun. So you should come.
And look, my picture is on the flier (#callmefancy)

(seven)

Jesus has given me a particular gift in this pregnancy.

I am able to drink coffee without puking.

Dear Jesus. Thank you.

That is all.

The reading doesn't have to stop here, head on over to http://thisaintthelyceum.org/ to read more quick takes!

7 REALLY quick takes!

I'm linking up with Kelly at This Ain't The Lyceum   to give you this week's quick takes.  Are you ready?

These are gonna be quick.  Because I want to eat breakfast.  Here we go.

(one)

Pregnancy Update.
Er'thing looking great.  For the first time in three pregnancies I passed my early glucose test with flying colors (normally I fail with flying colors).
I've been less sick than I've been with any pregnancy and that is awesome.
I've been more tired than any other pregnancy, which, actually has been manageable.
I'm at 18 weeks.  How cool is that!??!?!

(two)

\I find it amazingly interesting that on the interwebs in 2017, if one says anything short of 'Donald Trump is the devil'- one becomes a DT supporter who defends his every actions.
You people are crazy.

(three)

Look a family picture of the kids.

Can you even?

I didn't think so.

(four)

Taking a deep breath before we get into March's BOLD MINISTRIES calendar.
CHECK THIS OUT.
I KNOW!!!
Good thing I love the ministry I do.

(five)

Wanna hear of another terrible wife move? I know these are your favorite.
In the last couple o' years, the ol' husband has dropped the ball on some holidays (anniversary, valentines, birthday)
So this year, for Valentine's Day, I was like, "And if you're going to stop at the grocery store on the way home from work and pick me up flowers, don't bother... that shows about ZERO thought"

So he comes home from work with grocery store flowers.
ARGH.
And I handled it well, I thought, until my oldest said
"Why are you being so mean to daddy when he bought you flowers"
(worst.wife.ever)
And Aaron says
"You're going to feel real bad when you see what I actually did"

Turns out, the man got the grocery store flowers to throw me off my game.
He actually wrote me a book of poems, one for every year we've been together.

SHUT.UP.

One day, my friends, one day, I will learn to stop being a total brat.

(six)

Speaking of the ol' husband.
We are going on a date tonight.  It's been a long time since we've been on a proper date. Over two months.   I am very excited.  Bravo gift certificate! woot woot.

(seven)

LOCAL FRIENDS
On March 2nd I am facilitating a Women's Lenten Evening Retreat with one of my very favorite parishes, St. Regis.   I have done this the past couple years, and it's always been a wonderful time to slow down and enter into Lent with other amazing women.  I checked, and it's open to non-parishioners, so let me know if you'd like to join and I can get you the contact info to sign up.  I think there is a small cost associated, but you get dinner and it's at a super nice retreat center (Manresa).  It would be really great to have some friends/alumni/family there...

The reading doesn't have to stop here, head on over to http://thisaintthelyceum.org/ to read more quick takes!

I'm not gonna talk about that thing er'body else is talking about...(Quick Takes)

I'm linking up with Kelly at This Ain't The Lyceum   to give you this week's quick takes.  Are you ready?

I'm not gonna talk about that thing er'body else is talking about.  Rather, I need your help, I'm hoping at least 9 people who read this blog can pray about helping...

In one month I will be taking 12 teens to a Catholic Youth Conference in the Archdiocese of Detroit.  It is called RAINBOW. I went when I was a teen, I went as an adult volunteer for a youth program and I also went as a Youth Minister for many many years.

(insert funny paul story on the anniversary of his death... One year he went with our youth group to chaperone.  There was a kid who was um, a little more than a little misbehaved.  The teens 'punishment' was he had to stay by Paul's side all weekend... I don't think he minded)


This conference has lots of advantages (I'll explain them in the Quick Takes), BUT it is costly for two days.  I have committed to *trying to match sponsors up with young people.  I am looking for 9 people who will donate $100 that will help to defray the cost of the conference for our young people.  It was a gamble trying to do it this way...

BUT, I know I have people who read the blog who are invested in the faith of young people... and I know I have people who read the blog who have the means to donate $100 to sponsor a young person to attend this conference, so I thought I would give it a shot.

Here's a little more information.

(one)

You should do this because you will know you are sending a young person to a conference where they will meet with other young people of faith.

Our culture is crazy hostile to teens who choose to live as Catholic Christians.
It's hard.

I often say in talks, one of the bravest things a teenager can do is live their faith in 2017.
This conference allows young people to have a moment where they are with people of shared faith, kind of a reprieve from the 'war' they generally fight.

(two)

\The Eucharist is there.
My group always spends time before the Blessed Sacrament each day in prayer.
We will pray for you and your intentions by name during that time.
Jesus likes the prayers of teenagers...like, a lot.

(three)

Things are expensive (as you know).

I remember when I was a teen how much I wanted to do, but being one of six kids it was crazy hard to afford ministry events.  Life changing events.
But the generosity of strangers often allowed it. I often accessed scholarships to attend things I wouldn't have been able to otherwise.
Maybe you did to?  And maybe this is your moment to give back for someone who helped you along the road?

(four)

If you have the means to help out financially, that's awesome. 

I will give you the name of the teen you will be 'sponsoring'... you can pray for them.

You can maybe pray for them long after the conference.  It will be a spiritual bond with a young person who you may never meet, but who's life you can potentially change.

(five)

We will give the teen who you are sponsoring your name and address.
They will write you and tell you about their experience.
You will have a tangible way to know how your sponsorship helped a young person grow in faith. 

(six)

This conference has wonderful speakers/workshops, a Mass with the Archbishop, and plenty of time to bond with one another in an environment of faith.
It's a Catholic Party... and my gosh, who doesn't want to Catholic party?!?!?!

(seven)

If this is something you might be into, you can email me (marywilkersonym (at) gmail (dot) com) or you can message me on 'the facebook'.

I will give you the parish address and how to send a check that will sponsor a young person. I will ask for your address in return so the young person you are sponsoring can write you and tell you about their experience. 

Let's do this...

Take a moment, 

pray about it... could God be calling you to help these young people?!?!?!?!?

$100 to sponsor a young person to attend a Catholic Conference in Detroit for the weekend.

We will need a firm commitment (and preferably the donation) by February 11th... are you in?

If not, no worries.  But would you pray for us!?!?!?

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

The reading doesn't have to stop here, head on over to http://thisaintthelyceum.org/ to read more quick takes!

I was a real piece of work today...

It's been a minute since I've written a good, solid, bloggin' PDA about my husband, so if you're the type that gets annoyed at these types of things, you're gonna wanna just skip this bad boy.

Today, I have been a piece of work (shocking, I know). I was really sick last night and into the wee hours of this morning. At 6:30 am, I woke up my husband, Aaron, and made sure he understood he would getting up with the kids, changing them and feeding them. I rolled out of bed before he left for work, super cranky, begging him to work from home (which is really not a nice thing to do, to be honest, because I know he would if he could).

I followed that with texts throughout the day telling him how hard it was to feel so bad and have to care for the kids. At 5:30, he was suppose to be home but wasn't. I text to see where he was, and he said he was stuck in traffic. He didn't get home till six. Now, SAHMs know how each minute longer than the minute due home can feel like an eternity, couple that with me feeling like crud, I was fit to be tied when he got home late (through no fault of his own). When Aaron finally walked in the door, the first thing I said to him was ,'don't talk to me'. I followed that by going into my room with a bit of a door slam. Mind you, him not being home was not his fault. After letting me simmer for 10 minutes, he opened the locked door (oh my gosh, I lock my door when I'm mad at him, like a CHILD) laid on the bed and told me he was sorry he came home late, and he knew it was hard to be with the kids and run the house when I feel so bad. By now it was 6:15 pm. I came out of the room, and begged him to go get me some chicken noodle soup, which he did (please remember he was only home a half hour by this point). He got back from getting me soup at 6:40 pm, and I had the nerve to tell him he took to long getting the soup.

PLEASE NOTE- I never realize fully how irrational I am until I think about it later.

I responded to his kindness of getting me soup, by telling him to please 'sweep the floor' before he left.

"Left?" you say, "but where could he being going?"

Aaron had to leave the house at 6:45 pm to go to a committee meeting at the Parish I work for that he sits on so he could take something off my plate.

So now it's 8:25 pm, I've laid on the couch and ate my soup. I've taken a long, hot shower. I am getting ready for bed yet, and he's not even home.

I've been a real piece of work today blogger friends. And I'm feeling really guilty. I married the best of the best. The type of servant who begins serving at 6:30 am and doesn't stop until 9:30 pm. I don't deserve the gift God gave me in a husband but I'm gonna try to be better tomorrow. Because he deserves better, even when the kids are kind of cruddy all day, and I feel sick.

Boo, you're the best boo in the whole wide world, and I don't want you to think, despite my terrible behavior, that I've forgotten that.

AND, he's the most handsome.

2016 didn't suck for us

We are saying goodbye to 2016...

and although for many it has been a rough rough year... for us, it was pretty okay.

Yes, it's true that we are living in a surreal world where Donald Trump is the presidentmy 

(did that ish really happen?)

And the world is kind of a catastrophe in so many areas.

So much so that I have to mentally prepare my heart to turn on the news.

Many of my friends have dealt with heartbreaks beyond comprehension and I have lived through some broken relationships, restored relationships, hurts and sorrows.

But overall, 2016 has been a good year for these Wilkersons.  

I thought I'd share our highlights from the year in a monthly form and then, tomorrow, I'll share some dreams I have for the new year.  Here goes... perhaps redundant for those who follow us on the social medias.

JANUARY

January marked the 1 year anniversary since the loss of my dear friend Paul.  Some days I can't even believe everything that transpired. Aaron said that to me the other day, 'I cannot believe everything that happened, how quickly it happened'.  I take great comfort in my friend, I pray for his intercession almost daily.  I ask him to calm me, to make me nicer, to help me put up with people I don't like.  I have begged him to welcome into heaven the children/friends/family members of people who I know. I feel proud that my dearest friend sits with Jesus.

And I pray for Ann his wife, and his children. I pray for Ann's family, and the Coakley family and the grief they carry.  Will you say some prayers for them as we approach the second anniversary of Paul's unexpected passing?

The girlfriends at Paul's grave.  With a little whiskey...duh ;)

Father Mario offered a private Mass on the anniversary of Paul's death. Do you think we could get him to do it again?

The crew after Mass celebrating with a drink

FEBRUARY

February rocked.... we had the superhero dance...

MARCH

March started out awesome with a gathering of friends for St. Patrick's Day...

But it ended kind of cruddy.

Malia Paul was hospitalized for two nights with RSV.  

 We totaled not one, but TWO cars in the time span of 10 days...we lived Lent well.

APRIL

 Our luck turned around in April... First, we Dave Ramsey'd ourselves a new van with no payments (praise you Jesus)

 Malia recovered and was all smiles all the time 

 Aaron and I got to get all sorts of fancified and attend a 'gala' with our dear friends Tom and Erin

MAY

May was awesome.  We got to meet Baymax at Disney :)

 The boys bought me a beautiful mother's ring/claddagh ring set. A wonderfully thoughtful gift

 We got to celebrate my birthday at a fancy restaurant with dear friends, we were suppose to go see the 'Sound of Music' but apparently 36 makes you too tired to stay up for a complete musical. We left at intermission.

JUNE

We were blessed to play host to my sister and brother's families.  That's a LOT of cousins. That's 15 cousins to be exact. And 5 adults. So 20 people, in my 1000 Square foot home.  It was awesome

 We took the girlie to get her ears pierced. I am so glad my mother in law and Malia's godmother were able to join

 AND- our family took a little local overnight to Great Lakes Crossing to enjoy the Rain forest Cafe, Sealife Aquarium and LEGOLAND

2016 was the year of fancy, so the Wilkersons and the Coules got all doll'd up and attended the Sacred Heart Gala.  Such a fun night! 

Oh, there were some priests there too. Shout out Father Mario and Father Paul

JULY

WHOA. Did we get our travel on this month or what?  We went to Minneapolis to see Aaron's very best friends

 On our way back home, we stopped in Chi-town, our family's favorite place to go.  We got a sweet deal on the fanciest hotel I've ever stayed at. It was nothin' but awesome.

 Our travels were just getting started. We went to Kentucky for cousin time and fun

 And last, but not least, we went to Myrtle Beach to finally meet Grammy's whole family

AUGUST

August was awesome, we went to Papa's family reunion...

 Celebrated the opening ceremonies...

 celebrated Daddy's birthday at American Coney Island...

And had our heart's kind of broken by this kid starting school...

S

 SEPTEMBER 

September came quickly as this one started pre-k...

 And our baby girl turned 1...

 We began to enjoy Fall fun in Detroit City

OCTOBER 

October brought the visit of one my dearest friend's friends from college

 Mary, from Better Than Eden 

It also brought all the Fall fun you can imagine...

 And game-day Saturdays...

 And, of course, Halloween!

NOVEMBER

Gosh, November seems like three seconds ago.

There was outdoor fun...

 And we found out some INCREDIBLE news

News that the boys are still celebrating...

We went day drinkin' the day before Thanksgiving...as now has become a wonderful tradition...

 Lots of family came in, so we enjoyed the magic of Detroit city...

 and I soaked up time with my sisters

 DECEMBER

Aaron and I had planned a trip to NYC! It was lovely, and hard. I'm not sure I am built to leave my kids for multiple days...

 But we got to get fancy and spend time with just us... that was awesome

 And I got to take 'Seeing the Rockette's at Christmas time' off my bucket list

 We had our annual 'framily' Christmas party. One of my favorite days of the year

 Aaron was the angel Gabriel in his class program and rocked it (with the help of my mom's costume)

 Joseph was the most enjoyable Reindeer ...

 We celebrated as a 'just us' family by going to my favorite restaurant in Detroit city, 'Pegasus'

 We celebrated a wonderful and drama free Christmas Eve...

 Christmas morning was everything you want it to be for your kids...

And Christmas Evening continued the blessings at Grammy and Papa's house

 Then, my sweet husband let me leave to see my 'sisters who I never see (but actually see all the time)' for an overnight in Columbus.

This year was good my friends, and we are wishing your family health, happiness and holiness in 2017!!!