February 9, 2015: When did you grow up, Pens?

For a while, like so many of our teaching moments, they are threads, linked up, joined, woven from one moment to the next, always intertwined and placed into the spot of learning where each person is at. It really is just a natural progression for each individual. And so again it goes. I love these moments. Potty training. They are some of my favorite moments of walking alongside and being a part of our children's lives on their journeys as little people growing up. Penny has been on and off the toilet many times seeing how it all goes, without being set in one particular moment of potty training. But, because learning, especially in a house where we try to use each moment to teach and progress to the next step--at least this is the plan--we have been walking the training mode for a while. And so, on February 9, we set the diapers aside, put on one of her big sister's toddler undies and she left the diapers behind. :) She picked up all of her diapers and took them to Marta and gifted her with her clean, but "old" diapers. When did you grow up, Nels? YOu are our Sweets. You have a heart of pure gold. YOu know everyone's water bottle. You know what Marta needs and turn on the soundmaker for her, get her a blanket, kiss her and say, "Hi Bowtsy! Hi, Barta!" I have loved these moments, these seasons of growth, of nurturing and seeing how very capable each of you is and how empowering it is to your souls when MOm and Dad are so proud of you for your goodness, because that is what God has filled you with. YOu are His baby forever, and we are grateful we can be in your life, a true gift. I have loved, loved, loved seeing the applause that we can all give you when you leave the bathroom after using, like a big girl, the toilet. You are pleased, and so are we... in you.

You are potty-trained and we are entering a new season. May each one be rich, blessed and intentionally lived from moment to moment.

"The duty of the moment is what you should be doing at any given time, in whatever place God has put you. You may not have Christ in a homeless person at your door, but you may have a little child. If you have a child, your duty of the moment may be to change a dirty diaper. So you do it. But you don't just change that diaper, you change it to the best of your ability, with great love for both God and that child.... There are all kinds of good Catholic things you can do, but whatever they are, you have to realize that there is always the duty of the moment to be done. And it must be done, because the duty of the moment is the duty of God." 

-Catherine Doherty