Mary Poppins

How many activities have I signed my kids up for in the past 20 years? I should have kept a tally. Fall Soccer, Winter Soccer, Spring Soccer –times 1000, Baseball, Basketball, Dance, Dance and more Dance – Parkour, piano, Special Olympics, Football, Karate…..OK, I’m just going to stop. This will take forever.

As I look back at everything we have ever done, there is something they all had in common…

I was always thrilled when a practice or game was cancelled!  That always meant that I had a free day or night at home where I could do whatever I wanted! Well, I mean – I got to do the laundry or wash those stains out of my carpet:/ How sad that I get excited about that!

There is one activity that I didn’t put in that list. This activity didn’t have that common denominator. This activity took up every single evening, Monday thru Friday. Eventually, it even took up our days and Saturdays too. You would think that eventually, any one of us would grow weary and look forward to the day that this would end.

We never got to that point. No one wanted this to end. This was –

 

MARY POPPINS

In November, 4 of my kids, Samantha, Max, Theresa, and Ben all auditioned for Mary Poppins that would be performed through Calvary Bible College. We LOVE the director whom we affectionately call, Ms. Bobbie. She was the director for the homeschool theater several years ago until she cut her schedule down to one directing job at Calvary. Now, whenever she needs younger people for her performances, the Christys are on that golden e-mail list.

I had high hopes that Samantha, Max and Theresa would make the cast list. I was unsure about Ben. He was called back for the lead role of Michael Banks and nothing else. If he didn’t get this role, he may not be in the play at all. When the kids went to the 2^nd audition (the call backs), Samantha, Max and Theresa circled Ms. Bobbie to tell her of their reservations about Ben. They warned her that he was obnoxious, couldn’t focus, disobedient, goofed off too much – the normal complaints anyone has toward their little brother.

Apparently, Ms. Bobbie saw something in Ben that appealed to her. Little Michael Banks was an obnoxious, disobedient goof ball. Hmmmm. Jackpot!

The cast list was sent out that Ben got the part of Michael Banks! I was jumping and screaming in excitement while Samantha, Max and Theresa were moaning and sighing and pleading their case that Ben could never last in this role. Truth-be-told, I had my reservations too. OK, they were more than reservations. I was pretty confident that he would be booted from the play within the first week. Two weeks tops! Fortunately, there were 2 roles for Jane and 2 roles for Michael. If Ben couldn’t step up to the plate, there was another Michael to take his place.

Days and weeks of rehearsals were going by. Each time the kids stepped inside the door, I asked, “How was rehearsal?” accompanied very quickly with, “How was Ben???!”

Night after night, I heard, “Ben was fine.” Then the answers turned to, “Ben is really good.” Then, “I can’t believe how good Ben is at acting.” –  “Ben is really funny and cute.” –  “Everyone loves Ben.” – “Ben likes girls now.”

 

WHAT?! These are words that have never been spoken in this house. Things were changing around here. Everyone was seeing Ben in a different light. I had been telling him for years that he has what it takes to make the greatest saint or the greatest sinner. God gave him the qualities to be exceptional at whatever he desires. These are the same qualities that can drive a multitude of people into utter despair and emotional turmoil. My job is to steer him to use these qualities for what is good and holy. It’s a slow process.

 My entire household is turning upside down. The complaints were turning into compliments. It had been several weeks and I haven’t gotten that expected e-mail about his behavior. How long will this last? I was having proud mommy moments that I didn’t want to end.

The rehearsals were coming close to the end and Ben never showed any signs that he was in Mary Poppins at home. He didn’t come home laughing and giggling like the other kids. He didn’t tell me every detail about rehearsal. This is Ben…….

 

This is Ben while everyone talks and laughs and tells me how wonderful he is. Stop. Wait…..I am having a de-ja-vu moment right now. He is just like his brother, Nick. This is Nick……

This is Nick while everyone tells me how social and wonderful, kind, and mature he is.

I’M SO CONFUSED!!

Shake it off Katy! God will explain this to me later.

It is time for the very first Mary Poppins debut! 15 minutes before we leave the house and head off for the play, I get an e-mail saying that the lead character for Nelius (the talking, singing statue) was out of the play and Max will be taking his role. Max’s eyes light up. He is shocked. Then scared and nervous. He had been the understudy for only a couple weeks and was convinced that nothing would come of it. He had never even worn the costume or make up. Would he even be able to do his back flip while dressed up like a stone?! I’m so glad he didn’t tell me how nervous and stressed he was until after the play was over.

Friday night arrives. It is night #2 for the kids but #1 for Ben. I was more excited than I had ever been in my life. I got there an hour early but it easily could have been 2 or 3 hours. All I did is wait for time to pass so I could get to this play. Every person I made eye contact with made me want to shout, “I’m Michael Banks mom!!” I held back though. What if he totally bombed his part and embarrassed himself on stage. OH. MY. GOSH! ……What if he passes gas on stage??! That will totally RUIN the next 3 scenes as the stage managers try to get him to stop laughing! I would have to leave with a bag on my head. Better not announce that I’m related until the end of the play.

The play was FAN-TAS-TIC! Ben worked the crowd (probably more than he was allowed to) but was able to make them laugh and “awe”. I even caught him winking at an old lady in the front row and I watched her heart melt for him. You don’t know him lady!

 

All of the plays were great! I know that Ben had to have made the director nervous. He was a little unpredictable. The other actors were never sure what to expect from him. Ben acted like an ornery boy even when it wasn’t in the script. I’m quite sure Ms. Bobbie was not biting her nails when the other Michael Banks was on stage. He was professional and obedient. Ben wanted to venture outside the box and test how far he could go. It was VERY clear to the audience that he was having fun on stage.

We can’t forget that I had 3 other kids in the play! Max played a triple role. He was a banker, a chimney sweep and Nelius. He told me that it was absolutely crazy back stage. Two people were trying to dress him while a third was painting his face or cleaning it off…..or painting it again. He said the only time he got to relax was on stage. That is the story of our life anyway. Roy can only really relax at work – or in Iraq or Afghanistan. Max is just taking after his dad.

 

Theresa played 2 adorable parts besides her main role as a chimney sweep. She got to poke her head out of Mary Poppins purse & she got to be a shooting star, if you can imagine that.

 

Samantha was a chimney sweep which seemed like the climactic scene in the entire play – the scene that puts the audience on the edge of their seat.

 

The magical experience of the performances was not why we didn’t want the play to end. That was just a bonus. Roy & I got to hear 3 little chatterboxes (Ben just played CandyCrush) after every rehearsal. My kids were talking and laughing and sharing stories. Even unpleasant stories were enjoyable to talk about.

Calvary Bible College is a non-denominational Christian college. The Christy’s were the only Catholics in the bunch. What I enjoyed the most about this experience is all the conversations my kids had about their Catholic faith. If they couldn’t answer a question, they asked me, but THIS TIME, they cared about the answer! It makes this momma’s heart happy when my kids care about their faith and share it with others. My kids weren’t questioned just here and there. Every night, they came home with more topics of discussion. Even during the day, they were texting apologetics to their fellow cast mates. It was AWESOME! I wouldn’t be as strong in my faith if it wasn’t for my Protestant brothers and sisters questioning me. I had no choice but to read and learn. Mary Poppins has made my kids learn and love their faith.

God was a visible reality in this show. I couldn’t step into that building without feeling God’s presence all around. His grace was showered upon the students and staff. All of the students were filled with the love of Christ and would shine through to each other. That makes for a building full of blissfully happy people. Who would want that to end?

 

I rushed. I left the house frequently. I misunderstood the schedule a couple times which got me in troubleL I packed loads of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Roy spent his weekends building the set. I signed too many papers to count. I sprinted out of co-op – screaming for Ben to get in the van because we were late for a scene show I forgot about and yelling at the closest teenage to take over my Science class lab. I had to stay home with only little kids every evening with no older kids to help me. We didn’t eat dinner as a family more than once a week. We didn’t do this – or that – or the other thing. We were late for everything outside of rehearsals from January to March. And guess what? We still did not want it to end! De-ja-vue moment again…..This is a lot like being open to life. God’s presence and graces, trusting Him, and letting Him work HIS “magic” makes all the sacrifices joyful. Joyful sacrifices!

The only thing that kept me from weeping like a baby when the final performance was over is when I thought about the few students that had their final performance after spending 4 years at this wonderful college. While my kids played in 3 musicals in 5 years, these seniors participated in every play throughout the school year, lived in the dorms with their cast mates, and took acting and other classes with the same people – for FOUR years! They ended the best years of their life with a bang and the tears were flowing.

 

These are 3 of the seniors. Inseparable twins, Luke and Paul and their good friend, Moriah. They are awesome people. They have already had an amazing youth. I can only imagine what God has in store for them as adults. God has a unique plan for everyone but only a few are open, ready and excited to dive right in and find out what it is – and these are 3 of them. What a blessing to have known them as long as I have.

Ms. Andrew tries to give Michael Banks cod liver oil but for a brief moment, Winifred thought it was for her. LOL

Mary Poppins was played by Ben's Mama Kangaroo in Seussical

A lot changes in just 2 years

 

By the way – I DID get that behavior e-mail about Ben just a week before the play was to debut. But look how long it took! He had a good run and had an extraordinary ending.

This is Ben as the audience was trying to tell him how wonderful he was.

 

 

 

Christmas 2014

Dear Friends & Family,

We are closing in on the 2^nd year of being in our new house and land. I am still just as deliriously happy today as the first day we moved in. Every single day I am smiling and giggling and asking the kids, “Aren’t you SO happy to be living here?!” – just so I can hear their answer…….again…….and again. That question might get old one day but NOT YET.

I have never in my life imagined that I could have so much. I guess that keeping my expectations low can be a real blessingJ Seriously though, this was another amazing year that is unique to our family. We don’t have sports stats to share with you or how amazing the kids are doing in school. We have haunted trails, air soft wars, parties, a Gaga Ball pit, and Tee-Pee stories. My kids are going to have the greatest childhood memories that I hope will continue when they move on to build their own families.

Nick, 21, returned from Basic Training and his AIT in May and does his weekend drills just a few miles away. He works with landscaping while he finishes up his Associates Degree at Longview College. During his free time, he plays volleyball and soccer. He volunteers as a Catholic youth leader in North Kansas City and has found a home with the young adult Catholics in the Kansas diocese.  He still does not know what God is calling him to do but he’s at least decided that he wants to learn more about his faith, go on as many retreats as financially possible, and work with teenagers in the church. As long as he gets to heaven, he can pick tulips for the rest of his life. I don’t care!

Mary Kate, 20, was finally at the top of the waiting list for a waiver that would allow her to attend a program for adults with special needs. She now attends Developing Potential – a very nice program that keeps her busy with art, field trips, cooking, exercise, life skills and continue her education with reading and writing. She is photographed with all of her Special Olympics medals that she’s earned in the last 12 years.  She is still just as kind and loving as ever. She's perfectly happy to pick tulips for the rest of her life AND she is going straight to heaven. See? There's my proof that I don't care!

 

Samantha, 15, got her drivers permit this year. Since I don’t have too many positive experiences to share with you about that, let’s jump to something else. She has blossomed into a beautiful young lady. She spends entirely too much time studying because she wants her work to be perfect. When she wants to read or study quietly, she drives the 4 wheeler up to her “throne” that overlooks hundreds of acres of rolling hills and trees. I take everyone that still has use of their 2 legs up to see it. This was carved out by our awesome neighbor and even has her named carved/burnt into it - just in case there is any question:)

 

                                  

 

 

 

 

Max, 14, is still the outdoorsman. Everything he gets for his birthday or Christmas

has to do with his adventures outside. He has been making YouTube videos with his new GoPro that he will be posting for the world to see very soon. He played Charlie in Marvin’s Room that was put on by Calvary Bible College and will be entertaining us all in Mary Poppins this spring. Max may hate doing his homework but he can tolerate it if we are outside, on the porch, or in the Tee-Pee. Our neighbor also built the tee-pee that he furnished and decorated with nature’s resources and Indian artifacts.  Two or three days a week, you will find us in there reading History as Max builds a fire.

Theresa is 12 years old. God has positioned her just perfectly in the line of children. She negotiates, settles disputes, and compromises. She is best friends with the older kids and younger kids because she can identify and adjust to their likes and dislikes.  Sometimes I forget how young she is. I am ready and comfortable to share and talk to her like an adult – like she is already my best friend. She is the child that fills in the gaps.

 

Benjamin, 9, is still a rambunctious boy that drives the family crazy. This is his first year homeschooling. I SO wanted him to do one more year at our local public school but he was feeling left out of the family. I couldn’t let him feel that loneliness any more, even if it meant losing the freedom I had when he was in school.  Self-control, good sportsmanship, being a good friend, patience, solving disputes non-violently – these are all virtues we have been working on all year.  He could scale buildings, fly, fight, conquer a small country, and become one of our greatest saints with his God-given gifts if he would just channel his aggressive personality & character in that direction.  Parents of many children have a reputation of slacking off in their duties with the younger kids. Ben brings us back to reality. He is our “shot in the arm” for parenting.

Josie, 7, is still my cute little red-head. She LOVES attention. When I notice her in a new outfit or hairdo, or call her by some silly nickname, she smiles and giggles. I broke my rule about putting the younger kids in public school to learn their reading and writing. I couldn’t bear seeing her cute little cheeks and oversized backpack walking away from me every morning – hence, she is home with me.  She is an excellent student and is reading and writing like a pro. For her 7^th birthday, Roy took her out to shoot her first guns. She even made her own bullets.

Matthew, 4, is everyone’s favorite little boy. He isn’t scared of anything and wants to participate in every activity that his brothers and sisters are doing. Rarely will you see one of the kids on a 4-wheeler without him.  He has his own bed but has never slept in it. He sleeps wherever he wants – the toy box, my laundry basket, the closet, with a sibling, the trampoline, etc.  He has to be with the action – ok, there’s no action in my laundry basket but rest assured, the action is close by!

Andrew just turned one and has started walking. Oh my does this kid get attention! Everyone loves this little guy. We chase him, tickle him, play, love and squeeze on him all day long.  I have his playpen outside in the driveway. Whenever it is over 55degrees, I stick him in there so he can enjoy the wind and chickens. This kid will have the greatest memories!

Roy has been working his tail off all year. He is building and fixing something every single day. He loves it though. He has, long ago, completely died to himself and just serves his family. Our happiness is his greatest reward. He doesn’t need to be on the ATVs, in the treehouse, the tee-pee or the gaga ball pit. He only needs to know that we are in there and that brings him his joy. He took Samantha and Max on a mission trip to Guatemala this summer to build stoves, chicken coops and pig pens for families.

I am having a crazy busy homeschool year. I jumped from homeschooling 3 kids to homeschooling 5. You can quadruple that number since Ben is one of them! I jumped from teaching 2 classes at our co-op to teaching 4 with Trigonometry & Geometry as one of the grueling subjects. I have added a mobile toddler and 3 days of traveling to and from Mary Kate’s new school. I am tired.  Following the example of my husband, I receive my greatest reward when I see the love and happiness from my kids – as long as I don’t sit still and start feeling sorry for myself. Every day, I get to do 2 of my favorite chores – take the eggs out of the chicken coop & burn trash. Yes, I LOVE burning stuff! Thanks to having such a large family, we get overloaded with burnable trash twice a day. I love the smell of a good fire and anything else that is unique to living on land.

Roy and I are in our 7^th year teaching a chastity class for teenagers every week for 2 hours – all school year. We LOVE it and can’t imagine ever giving this up. We started facilitating a retreat for engaged couples that average 4-5 retreats a year. We love teaching anyone and everyone who will listen about God’s plan for our bodies in the single, religious, or married life.

I pray you had a great 2014 and an even better 2015!!

                                                                              

                                                                             Love, The Christy’s –

                                                                             Roy & Katy

                                                                             Nick, Mary Kate, Samantha

                                                                             Max, Theresa, Benjamin,

                                                                             Josie, Matthew, & Andrew

 

Some of our favorite pictures!!

The best investment we ever made -- a Gaga Ball Pit! Right in our own back yard!

 

 

Samantha gets a kiss from a special needs girl in Guatemala

 

My kids are around special needs children & adults all the time anyway. There were no new experiences on this visit.

 

Ben made his first Holy Communion this year and promptly began serving with Max a week later. He sits still for this!

 

Our amazing waterslide in the Summer/Suicide Hill in the Winter

 

 

They meet for the first time in 5 months!!

 

It SO wouldn't be right to leave out the neighbor. (Yes, he's married:)

 

                                                                

                                                                                                                               

                                                                       

 

My Baby Turns ONE

My baby boy turned one today. It is so strange to feel like he is still my new baby and, at the same time, feel like it has been years since I was waddling around the house and hyperventilating after I walked from my van to the front door.

 

Time is flying by. I am so happy that I learned how quick my life was flashing by early enough to take advantage of my fertile years. I managed to give birth to 9 babies in a 20 year spam. Every once in a while, one of my kids will comment on their disappointment that I only have 9 when I easily could have squeezed in 2 or 3 more. They mean every word too. All of my kids experience day in and day out the indescribable joy of having a large family. Whenever they become complacent, they spend quiet time at a friend’s house and begin to miss the chaos of their home. The silence may be a much needed break for a little bit but soon, the homesickness begins to weigh them down.

I have only experienced this one time in my married life. I went to Branson with Roy for the weekend. It was just the 2 of us. I have never looked forward to a vacation more in my life. I counted down the months, weeks, days and hours like a child going to Disney World. We drove 3 hours, stopped at Walmart and bought all the bad food that we knew we wouldn’t have to hide, picked up a couple bad movies (OK. Stop it. They were PG-13!), and planted ourselves on the couch in our beautiful and QUIET condo.

And we just sat there.

And sat there.

We looked at all our “sugar” cereal on the counter – right out in the open – and started missing the kids. They needed to be there with us! What were we doing?! I wanted to hide all the junk food and pull out my ninja-matrix-stealth moves to get to it. THAT is what makes life so exciting!! Having what I want, when I want it is SO boring!  (I could totally put in a plug for Natural Family Planning here but I won’t)

Roy and I muddled through the next day and came home early.

From now on, our alone time vacations will be sneaking ice cream after the kids go to bed.

I don’t want this part of my life to end. I want to go straight from having my own children to having grandchildren. Life is priceless. Each child is priceless. I wouldn’t trade any of my kids in for anything – Not for a cleaner house, more money, a career, a newer car, a college degree, more free time, sugar cereal out in the open – Nothing.  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDREW!!

 

 

Created for Love - Chapter 1

Our Theology of the Body for Teens began in the beginning of September and we didn’t waste any time jumping right into the hot topics.

The first class began with introductions and then we watched a chastity talk by Jason and Crystalina Evert that they give to High Schoolers all across the country. It was and hour ½ that covered subjects like sex, dating, STDs, how Jesus suffered and died for his beloved (the Church), chastity, the dangers of contraception, etc. etc. We broke in the middle of the video to spend 10 minutes in adoration and benediction.

Now the students are hooked and bringing their friends!

This week, we covered Chapter 1. The title is Created for Love. This chapter explains in detail about how and why we were created. Why are we here? Why do we have bodies? What is our purpose?

This would be a never-ending blog if I attempted to answer these questions but, in reality, these need to be answered if we want to have eternal happiness. Eternal happiness.

We are created by Love and for love. Each one of us has a God-given desire to yearn for communion with one another. The purpose of our bodies is to be a visible sign of the invisible God – much like watching a ball fall to the ground being the visible sign of gravity – or trees swaying as a visible sign of wind. When Adam & Eve looked upon each other before the Fall, they saw God in each other. After the Fall, there was a fog that made it difficult to have that same vision. Now there was a real danger of being looked at lustfully rather than with love. But as long as we know what we are looking for – as long as we know that our desires for one another are signs for our desire for God, we are on the right track to having eternal happiness.

That is about all the wisdom I can share on the subject for a blog! For richer teachings, I recommend reading Love and Responsibility by Saint Pope John Paul II while having the companion Men, Women and the Mystery of Love by Ted Sri, sitting close by.

One of the activities for chapter 1 was to mold something out of play dough that represents their current relationship with God or a relationship they hope to have with Him in the future.

I cannot believe how quick and creative all of the kids were with this project! Everyone had a different idea. Everyone had a different piece of art.....

God has me safe in His hands

God is still working on me. Ok, maybe a little creepy but it's pretty ingenious right?

My own daughter & I forgot what she said...:/

Old St. Patrick's Latin Mass brings her ultimate fulfillment in her faith.

The Max mold is looking at the world as a symbol of  materialism as God waits for him on the other side of the wall. Max only needs to look away from the world and toward Him. Yes....that's my son:)

Good grief. He made a Minecraft. LOL. It symbolizes distractions he has with his relationship with God.

Lumpy stairsteps that symbolize his fumbling in the right direction.

A skull and cross bones that symbolize death to himself as he surrenders his life to God

"F, crucifix, ?" Symbols of Faith, what Christ did for me, and questions why God could ever love a guy like him. It brought "awww's" across the room.

She had a complicated and lengthy project & story. I expect nothing less from this remarkable girl.

God is trying to yank this boy back as he tries to run away from him. He resists but still allows God to pull him back from the world.

God leads her as she "blindly" allows Him to.

"I took apologetics classes when I was a Protestant and now I'm taking apologetics class as a Catholic. I had 2 different lives."

Praying at my bedside
 

Whenever I weather a storm, God brings out the blessings in the end.

This is me being invited to get out of the boat and walk with Jesus

God is in the center of death (tombstones) as He guides me to Him



God has me completely in His hands - loving me and caring for me.



God gives me gifts every day. (She made a bag holding gifts)

I have amazing students, don’t I?! Goodness. I feel like my job is done but NO - We have 2 hours, every week for the next 30 weeks to talk about love, sex, chastity, dating, God, the language of our bodies, vocations, sacrament of marriage, reconciling with God, etc., etc., etc., ETCETRA!!!!