In Which I May Just Be Back in the Land of the Living

by | Jan 8, 2015 | Blogging, Guest Post, January | 25 comments

I’ve missed you guys!

Pictured: This was not MY funeral. This was the funeral of Brian Urlacher the hen, who was found dead on Boxing Day, and was buried with due reverence by her caretaker Bobby, with supervision by Frankie.

But, whew, yesterday was the first day since Thanksgiving that I haven’t felt like death warmed over. This baby has been kicking my butt.

Usually when a blogger comes back from a break, she has a poignant and insightful, “What I Learned on my Sabbatical” post to share. But really, all I’ve learned is that of all the things available to throw up, sushi is my least favorite.

No, that’s not quite true. I also learned that I am very blessed to have parents and a husband and a sister who will pick up the slack for me when I really just CANNOT do it all, or any of it. And that my big kids can totally run the house, nap times, mealtimes, everything. Big kids are The. Best. But THAT I knew already. I wish I could bottle up essence of Betty and sell her. We’d be bazillionaires.

The only other thing to report is that I watched a perfectly ridiculous amount of Netflix streaming. But that’s probably best left for another post.

As long as tends continue, expect a photo dump tomorrow and some year-end recap posts I meant to do in December for next week, then back to real content! Also, I’m going to take the tree down.

Be sure to shoot me any mailbag questions you’ve got.

I hope you all had a wonderful Advent and Christmastide, with lots of good cheer and very little barfing. And here’s hoping for plenty of that in 2015.

Love,
Kendra

P.S. I’m mostly popping in this morning because I’m at Blessed is She today, with a post I wrote ages ago, that I think you folks might like, even if you don’t usually read Blessed is She.

The First Reading today, from the first letter of Saint John, tells us everything we need to know about how to convert our friends on Facebook, Twitter, forums, blogs, and email forwards. Seriously. It does. It’s a step-by-step guide to evangelization in the time of social media. . . .

Click over to read the rest here, and go ahead and subscribe, if you’re so inclined.

25 Comments

  1. Elizabeth@SuperSwellTimes

    Glad you're feeling better. We had a case of the creeping crud around these parts (which I know probably doesn't compare) so I sort of know how you feel.

    • Kendra

      All cruddiness is equally no fun! Hope you're all better too.

  2. Tracy Bua Smith

    Glad you are feeling more like yourself! I read your Blessed is She devotion today! Good stuff!

  3. Amanda

    Great post at BiS.

    Glad you're feeling better! And if you figure out how to bottle essence of Betty, I'll pay whatever you want. I'll have a 7year old in June, but it's a boy and I don't think they're as useful…

  4. Theresa

    I was wondering when we'd hear from you again 🙂 Glad you're feeling better!
    Super gross about the sushi, but good to be made aware of… I guess??
    Speaking of Netflix – have you watched any of Broadchurch? Kind of an emotional and difficult story line but I can't tear myself away.

    • Kendra

      Yes! That was one of the things I watched. I thought it was a compelling storyline, but I hate hate HATED the resolution. It seemed SO lame and out of nowhere. It made me really mad.

    • Theresa

      I'm only on episode 4, so I'll be on guard for lameness 🙂
      (I have to keeping watching it now to see what's got you hating it so enthusiastically!)

    • Kendra

      I'd love to hear what you think when you finish it. I have strong thoughts about how they went wrong, but I don't want to go all Frozen on everyone again.

    • Anamaria Scaperlanda Biddick

      Please write this! I'd love to hear your thoughts. We just re watched the first few episodes and there were a lot more hints than I caught the first time, and I liked so much about the show, including the fact it was hard to figure out who did it.

      PS anything with rice is the worst the second time around, but maybe that's because I have big tonsils? Hope you feel better soon! I'm very nervous about a second pregnancy because the first was so bad

  5. Heather

    My daughter in law is due around the same time as you. Hopefully she's on the road to feeling better too. She has been downright miserable and had a few ER visits for dehydration along the way. I keep telling her it gets better (and I hope I'm right). They live about a hundred miles south of us and I'm planning to drive down next week to go to the doctor with her. I've been to all the visits for my other grandbaby who is due to arrive in May so when I was invited to tag along, I couldn't refuse. And.. about older kids… my little brothers are 7, 10 and 14 years younger. They were like my own kids and definitely prepared me for parenting! I'm sure Betty is getting a lot out of being mama's helper – I sure did! *hugs*

    • Kendra

      That's so great to hear Heather. Any time I worry that she has too many responsibilities around here, my husband reminds me that she really, actually LIKES looking after the little kids, and cooking too. It's what she chooses to do in her spare time. And boy is she a lifesaver. God knew what he was doing when he sent me Betty. Between the two of us we make a VERY competent mother.

      Hugs to your poor daughter-in-law. Mine never got that bad. At least I got to be miserable in the comfort of my own home.

  6. Patty

    Kendra I really really loved your meditation!!! Our youth ministry meeting this weekend is on social media, and what you reflected on is so relevant to our topic!!

  7. Jill VT

    How many weeks are you Kendra? Are you almost free of the first trimester uggies?

    • Kendra

      I'm actually not sure. I wasn't charting, and I was kind of expecting babies to start spreading out a bit here. I'm 38! But we're right back to 19 or 20 months apart. I was thinking that I was nearly 12 weeks, but I just woke up yesterday and felt better, right out of nowhere. It's making me wonder if I'm not a little further along than I thought, since it usually has lasted until 14 weeks for me. But I'll find out next Wednesday when I (finally) go to the OB. 🙂

    • Jill VT

      I had a baby very quickly too at 38! It wasn't until I hit 40 that things slowed WAY down…for better or worse (worse I think!). I hope you are almost in the clear!!!

  8. Natalie Zambreski

    PLEASE let us know if/when you figure out the "bottling up the essence of Betty." That is something I'd like to get in on please!

  9. Erica Saint

    I am glad that you are feeling better! I can't wait to read about what you watched on Netflix. In my limited experience, older children are such a joy! 🙂

  10. Being Refined

    Kendra,
    I'm glad you are beginning to feel better. Yay for Netflix binge watching. 🙂 I also really enjoyed the Blessed is She post.

  11. Anonymous

    So glad you're back. I'm also very glad to hear that big kids are the best. I'm pregnant with #6 and my oldest is 7 1/2. While he is beginning to be helpful, it's very exhausting. Now I have something in which to look forward! They will get big and helpful someday!

    • Kendra

      Yes! It's coming! Now's when you start laying the ground work, like having older ones read stories to little ones, and teaching them to make scrambled eggs and mac&cheese. Then, soon, they're putting little ones to bed and making dinner!

  12. Anonymous

    I LOVED today's devotional over at BiS!! I too took a break from blogging because of my early pregnancy and lots of other stressors, though I am thankful my morning sickness was mostly just really bad nausea. I am so glad you're back, I am in the process converting to Catholicism, and pregnant with my first so I am storing up all your advice on how to raise a little one in the Church. Hope the sickness is all gone!!!

    • Kendra

      Thanks! And how exciting. We're happy to have you.

      Yeah, I pushed through it for a month or so, because I had committed to various giveaways, but then I just didn't have it. I just needed less on my plate. But I'm hoping I'm back for good. :0)

  13. Francine

    So glad you're starting to feel better now, and I'm no Bears fan, but that hen's name was hilarious. 🙂

Submit a Comment

Hi! I’m Kendra.

For twenty years now, I’ve been using food, prayer, and conversation based around the liturgical calendar to share the lives of the saints and the beautiful truths and traditions of our Catholic faith. My own ten children, our friends and neighbors, and people just like you have been on this journey with me.

If you’d like to learn more about what Catholics believe and why, and to be inspired by saints from every era all over the world, you’ve come to the right place. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with the prospect of how to teach your kids about the faith in a way that’s true, engaging, and lasts a lifetime, we can help!

Contact me at helpdesk@catholicallyear.com

This blog contains affiliate links and sponsored posts, for which I receive a commission. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.