You can read my latest column at Inside Catholic today:

I Sob Because I Care

When we parked at the ocean today, I stuffed a nearby backpack with some snacks, drinks, sunscreen, and changes of clothing for the smallest kids.

I was already going to be lugging my own bag plus doing some hand-holding on our short walk to the beach, so I thrust the backpack toward Ambrose.

“Here,” I told him, “You carry this please.”

“Uhhh … are you kidding me?”

Startled by his unwillingness, I thrust it yet again in his direction.

“I am not kidding. You carry this.”

He backed away from my hand. I looked at the backpack.

The hot pink Dora the Explorer backpack.

He was off the hook.

I call him that here because he would never let me get away with it in real life. See? Blogs are good for something, aren’t they?

My dirty sweaty baby boy Rafe:

When looking for your rolling pin, check the deck. Yeah, right there, next to the soccer ball.

Imagine the swooning when a gaggle of little old French Canadian ladies at our parish asked Stephen what he would be requesting for his birthday dinner …

“Pâté chinois,” came the answer.

Eight years of clever, funny, sweet, kind, generous, strong, goofy, tough, friendly, passionate, hard-working, fun-loving, smart, helpful, charming YOU.

Happy birthday to my big boy who is growing up way too fast but no one ever seems to ask my permission for these things anyway.

Thank God for you, Stephen. We are so blessed by you.

Mmmmm, pie.

Faith & Family is hosting a fruit pie contest this week. Bake up a pretty pie, take a picture, and enter to win a King Arthur gift certificate.

What could be easier? What could be more fun?

Come on over and participate!