Memories

A Double Celebration

November 29, 2011 By Sarah Reinhard 6 Comments

Eight years ago, we planned a big party.

Eight years ago, he waited for me at the end of an aisle.

Eight years ago, we knelt beneath the Cross and sealed our happiness with a Sacrament.

Eight years ago, we exchanged rings.

Eight years ago, we sealed it with a kiss.

Eight years ago, we shared the first of many knives, the first of many cakes, the first of many great desserts.

Eight years ago, he looked at me, I laughed, and we began a lifetime together.

Eight years ago, we danced a moonlight serenade and I started practicing letting him lead.

Eight years ago, I took his hand, for better or for worse.

And one year ago, we celebrated our anniversary with the best gift we could imagine.

November 29th is one of my favorite days of the year.

Our Lady of Beauraing, pray for us.

Filed Under: family, Memories Tagged With: Baby #3, family, marriage, pictures, wedding

Why We’ll Own Secretariat (the movie)

September 29, 2010 By Sarah Reinhard 1 Comment

We aren’t real big on movies. We watch them, mind you, but we tend to have favorites and there’s a distinct pattern to what we like. Going to a theater just isn’t fun for us, as a couple, the way it is for many others I know.

So you don’t see me reviewing a lot of movies in this space. When we watch the action movies or John Wayne westerns he prefers, I really don’t feel inspired to write. When we watch the humor pictures or chick flicks I tend toward, it’s usually not worth mentioning in this space.

But, really, we don’t watch a lot of movies. Especially during football season.

When the chance came up, though, to attend a prescreening of Secretariat, I went out of my way. It was on a school night, it was going to be late, and though it was free, it was also going to cost us a mint in babysitting.

Never mind all that.

This is a movie we’ve been talking about for MONTHS. When we watched the Belmont Stakes this spring, in fact, I found myself both starry-eyed and teary watching the trailer (which we rewound and rewatched at least three times).

Both my husband and I were horse-crazy in our youth. We discovered it after we were married — and we dated for nearly five years! — and we’ve fanned the flame of hoss-love in each other in the years since we’ve had kids of our own. Though I haven’t been able to find my old dog-eared copies of all the Walter Farley books I read back then, I have found a couple of his…and I’ve been working on building that collection back up, along with other horse books.

It’s no surprise, then, that seeing Secretariat had to happen with my main man, my partner-in-things-equine, my boyfriend extraordinaire.

We were not disappointed. From the very beginning, the movie grabbed us. Knowing how things turned out somehow didn’t keep me from clenching my hands, trying to lean forward despite the baby that has taken over my belly, and experiencing a range of emotion.

Julie pointed out, in her excellent review, that the movie reminded her of the way Disney used to make movies, and that phrase alone was enough to make me 12, at Grandma’s, going to the video store with Aunt C. She would let us pick a movie from the old Disney section (bonus points for picking something with Hayley Mills) and then we’d have popcorn and ice cream that evening while we watched it.

I was at Grandma’s when I watched the 1989 Belmont Stakes, as a matter of fact, when Easy Goer ran that race in a way that was compared to Secretariat’s running of that race in 1973. I think, in 1989, I already had spent the astronomical (to me at that time) amount of money on a Breyer model of Secretariat (which is still safely tucked away in my attic).

Though Secretariat was a great horse movie (and I’ve watched a few over the years), it was also a journey. I’m not sure I always agreed with some of the subtext, but I did appreciate that theme of fighting for what you believe in that seems to be so prevalent in sports movies. Throughout the movie, we were educated about just what a hard trek it is to get to those big races of the Triple Crown (the only horse races many people ever know about or watch). I knew it was a big money venture, but to see the struggle that went into it in 1973 gave me some insight into how much more so it must be today.

From the interview we saw at this year’s Belmont with the real Penny (Chenery) Tweedy, the movie captured the essence of the real Secretariat, his personality and fire. That made me love the movie even more.

Does that make me a horsey romantic?

This movie reminded me, in so many ways, about the hope I so often fostered as a kid. Horses were, to me, a beacon, a transport to take me away from…well, from whatever. The great movies I saw about them, the books I devoured, the pictures I pored over and cut out and hung above my bed…all these things somehow mingled together and then, for many years, were buried and forgotten. I’ve only just rediscovered the depth of them, and this movie makes me remember the passion of my youth and the joy I found within it. It makes me gaze at my horse-crazy girls with tears in my eyes, knowing they have opportunities I never had.

It also makes me look forward, with double-renewed vigor, to our weekly trip to the horse farm.

Whether you’re a horsey romantic like me, or just a fan of good movie-making, you’ll find something to love in Secretariat. Highly recommended.

Filed Under: Memories, movies, Reviews Tagged With: memories, movies, Reviews

Snow and Mary

August 3, 2009 By Sarah Reinhard Leave a Comment

I remember it as one of the most special Christmases ever. It was the Christmas my youngest baby was in my arms and my oldest child was a sibling…both for the first time. It was the Christmas family came visiting from 1500 miles away. It was the Christmas we took a niece to her first midnight Mass and I found myself transported beyond the magic of Santa into the wonder of something so much more beautiful.

Christmas is special for so many reasons. I’ve hated it for years, for various reasons, but I embrace it now, for so many other, better reasons. I think of that Baby in the manger, not so different from the babies I’ve held. I smell the incense, see the church transformed, feel myself…nudged, sometimes a little, sometimes a lot.

And then there’s that certain special Christmas snow, the snow that is prayed for earnestly, with innocence and wonder and faith. The snow that, against all forecasts, comes.

Makes me think of Mary. [Yeah, I know, by now you know that everything makes me think of Mary, but with a weekly assignment to write about her, I have to be a bit open-minded. ]

As it turns out, there’s a title of Mary, Our Lady of the Snows, that has to do with…snow.

I’m pretty sure she’s the patron of a niece of mine who shares her name. I’m pretty sure when my niece hears about this title, she’ll have the holy card in her possession. I’m pretty sure that I’ll be thinking of Mary in a few months when it snows here in Ohio.

If you want to learn more about our special Christmas and about Our Lady of the Snows, stop by Today’s Catholic Woman and read my column.

Filed Under: family, Inspired by the Virgin Mary, Memories, writing Tagged With: Today's Catholic Woman, Virgin Mary, writing

Memories in the Making

July 31, 2009 By Sarah Reinhard Leave a Comment

–1–

Is there anything better than the sound of a toddler giggling? She giggles with abandon, throwing her head back, and asking for “more” if the giggling was inspired by tickling. We can make faces, we can make silly noises, we can chase her…she’ll laugh. And it’s music to my ears.

–2–

On the other hand, few things are as frustrating as the word “fine” said in just the right tone of voice. My four-year-old has discovered that tone of voice. I’m fine-tuning the strategies for dealing with it. Putting my fingers in my ears and singing “la, la, la, I can’t hear you,” while appealing, doesn’t seem like quite the right approach…

–3–

Last week, when we were at my brother’s, I discovered his old Picture Bible. And, being the great guy he is, he gave it to us! ~~I can’t find it online, but it’s published by David Cook Publishing and this looks a lot like it.~~ I remember my dad reading it to me when I was very young, and my four-year-old has been begging for it every night at story time (and through the day too).

Updated: after some more extensive searching, here it is. The same one, I think. Anyone know if there’s a Catholic version that includes the great Old Testament stories of Tobit and Maccabees? I’d love to see one!

–4–

In Toddlerspeak, swing is “whee.” In Toddlerworld, we can’t do enough wheeing.

–5–

Know any good “Knock, Knock” jokes? My four-year-old has been amusing me with them for quite a while, but now that my toddler is adding words daily, she’s picked up “Knock, Knock.” She says them with a demanding air and will increase her volume until someone responds. We usually can’t understand what she says next, but it always cracks her up. See #1.

–6–

My four-year-old’s favorite game, replacing “House,” is “School.” In this game, I am Mrs. Reinhard and she is a variety of students. She changes her voice and everything. Oh, and she tells me what we’re doing next. She thinks it’s great fun.

–7–

In a conversation about homeschooling this week, one of the friends who inspired me to learn more about it many moons ago shared this link to The Latin-Centered Curriculum with me. Anyone out there using it? I haven’t had a chance to do thorough research on this program, but my friend is as excited as I have ever seen her. I’m intrigued.

For the Quick Takes round-up, head to Conversion Diary.

Filed Under: family, Memories, Quick Takes Tagged With: children, family, Quick Takes

Christmas Bits

December 25, 2008 By Sarah Reinhard Leave a Comment

This is a post for me, though you’re invited along too. I want to remember all the little parts of this year’s Christmas, but if I wait until I have a “proper” post, I’ll have forgotten half of it. So here, in a quiet moment with a glass of wine and the house quiet, I’m going to capture what I can of our Christmas.

–1–

We took the kids to Midnight Mass, and I’m so very glad we did. They went to bed, and we woke them up at a little after 11 to get ready. Babs was not such a fan, though Toddlerkins thought it was great fun. We were early, and the music was grand. The girls’ eyes were wide and throughout the Mass, the little one kept holding her arms out in the direction of above the altar. I wonder which of the host of angels was holding his/her arms out too? I have more to say about this – this is going to be its own post someday soon (I hope). There was incense, and Babby’s eyes when the procession came down the aisle, Father holding Baby Jesus, was a priceless sight. They were awake the whole way home, Babs telling us all about the night, the lights, the things that I would have completely overlooked on my own. She was up at 6:30 or 7, but somehow Bob got her to crawl in bed with us, and when Nanny came at 8:30, she woke us both up.

–2–

Bob’s family has a tradition at Christmas: coffeecake. My mother-in-law (Nanny) has not only redefined how I view coffeecake and when I’m hungry for it, but she brought it with her this morning when she came at the unholy-early hour of 8:30. This is the picture I took of it yesterday:

–3–

I am so very grateful that Nanny likes to bake cookies. Yesterday, she asked if we would come over so she could make cut-outs with Babby. “If you don’t come, I don’t think I’ll make them,” she said. I’m still not sure if she said that to assure that I’d be there lickety-split. I’m a great fan of eating cookies, especially cut-outs (sans icing is my favorite, but I’ll take what I can get, especially since I’m not likely to make them myself).

Here’s the plate of cookies they made:

And here’s the icing (which, I think, is Babby’s favorite part – Nanny lets her mix the food coloring in and everything):

And the completed works of art, every bit as delicious as they look (even if they did have icing):

–4–

There are a lot of things I wish I had done to observe Advent, but that can’t be helped until next year. One thing we did do was count down using this Nativity Advent calendar, made by Pockets of Learning, which I found at Catholic Child. Though it was missing a whole row of pieces and then there was a mix-up as to which pieces we really needed, their customer service was outstanding, and we received the replacement pieces in time to enjoy it. I’m not sure who enjoyed putting each piece up more, Babby or me.

–5–

Though I have 312 Christmas songs in my iTunes library, the soundtrack for Christmas for me remains a mixture of the Carpenters and the Nutcracker. I remember Aunt C playing Christmas Portrait and Old-Fashioned Christmas over and over in the Christmases of my youth, on a record player. I can still picture the Thanksgiving weekend I was in 4th grade, lying on her couch practicing my lines for the school play, with the sounds of Karen Carpenter in the background. Whenever I hear the songs (and I listen to them a lot on Christmas!), I think of her. I also think of Prince Charming, who shares my passion for them (he’s a 70s music buff, he is), and who will listen to them as much as I will play them (sometimes even when it’s not Christmas).

–6–

Speaking of Aunt C, we saw her briefly today, at Grandma’s, where we went for “dinner” (which means lunch in GramWorld). Unfortunately, we weren’t able to stay, so we’re home much sooner than we intended. Two are upstairs sleeping and the now-awake nearly-four-year-old is haranguing me about the presents we brought home with us. (This situation is why St. Publius is going to be such a great friend to have this year.)

–7–

THANK YOU to all of you who prayed for our health in the past week. Yesterday was Toddlerkins’s first “normal” day since last Saturday when she unveiled her plan to keep me home for the entire weekend. This morning, when she finally woke up (having no idea about the presents awaiting her downstairs, nor of her sister’s impatience to “help” her open them), she was as normal as ever. And, near as I can tell, Miss Muffet has been immune to whatever bug it was.
In her hand, a farmer. In the background, the Unparalleled Home Warmer (wood stove).

We don’t need more ham around here. Can you tell?

(Yes, I know, this is getting long. But I won’t apologize. This post is for me, after all!)

–8–

Did you know that today’s a Day with the Duke on AMC? Does life get any better than this?

Well, yes, it does. This:

–9–

We have a budding artist in the house. Wouldn’t you agree?

–10–

Now, for a group of people I don’t often talk about: my colleagues. I work with an amazing group of three women and one priest (not counting the music minister, who I don’t see much, and our deacon, who is not often in the office).

You’ve all met Ann, who blogged for a while and is supposedly coming back (I’ll believe it when I see it). What you can’t possibly know is how much she does, without complaining or drawing notice to herself. What you don’t appreciate, because you don’t work with her everyday, is the little ways she makes the people around her happier through her service and her unfailing humor. What you should see is how my kids – especially Toddlerkins, though Miss Muffet has a way of batting her eyes and hugging her that just doesn’t fail – have her completely wrapped around their little fingers. I can’t look at a pair of snazzy shoes without thinking of Miss Ann and Miss Muffet, who share a love of things fashionable and shoe-related.

Then there’s Sue. There are two Susans in my life, and I think of how much I love them both most in the summer when my black-eyed Susans bloom out in the garden. Sue loves my kids as though they are her own. She has gained Aunt status and she has become a dear friend. Working with her is a blessing for so many reasons, but most of all for the joy of having her in my life.

Kelly, the newest member of our office staff, is so much like me and so much different from me that it’s hard to know where to start. Her heart is big and her aim is true. She has more energy than anyone I have ever met (myself included). And I love her dearly and I learn something from her every day I’m around her, though never in ways I expect.

I have written about Padre before, and though there’s much more I could say, I’ll just say that he is a wonderful gift in my life in so many ways.

Now that I’ve said all that, I’m wondering if it’s appropriate. It seems strange to be as passionate about your colleagues as this. All the same, this parish work has always felt to me like it’s where I belong (third in line after my vocations as wife and mother). I went through a period of discernment recently, trying to determine if the time had come to stop working at the parish. The answer came back with a resounding YES. It’s where God wants me.

And I’m glad. I am blessed by these colleagues of mine – and there are days – too many of them to count – when having witnesses is a blessing for my children.

I hope your first day of this Christmas season has been filled with blessings and joy! Merry Christmas!

Filed Under: Memories, Quick Takes

For the Love of Apple Pie

December 18, 2008 By Sarah Reinhard Leave a Comment

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Apple pie holds a place of honor for me, though it isn’t really my favorite kind of pie. Apple pie brings back memories of the orchard where my grandparents lived through my younger years, of running through the trees and playing with the ancient dollhouse on the screened-in patio. One bite reminds me of hot applesauce and the nip of fall, of anticipating Christmas on the green pile carpet in front of the black wood stove, of late night popcorn and Hershey-coated ice cream. When I eat a good apple pie, I can’t help but remember the red “ruby slippers” that Grandma later told me she kept because of my fondness for them as a child (she gave them to me a few years ago), the feel of Grandpa’s lap as he read me a book or told me a tall tale, the adventures in pass-through closet between the two upstairs bedrooms. Apple pie means big dinners and cozy conversations and smiling company.

I didn’t have the words for my fondness for apple pie, though, until I read John Edge’s wonderful book Apple Pie. In it, he undertakes the quest for “true” apple pie, “real” apple pie, apple pie that isn’t a can of pie filling in a thawed crust. It’s a journey that inspired me and that made me realize that, deep inside, I have a desire to learn to make a pie crust. He writes with humor, but make no mistake: this is a man on a mission – and an important one at that!

Did I mention it’s a short book and that it includes recipes? They’re recipes I think even I can follow, though I’m not going to attempt a crust without first going through some lessons with two of the great pie-crust-bakers I know.

I’d tell you to go to the library and get a copy, try it out, except that you might find, as I did, that not only will you drool all over the pages, but you won’t be able to cook with it because of your propensity to drip and dribble and make the pages stick together.

Filed Under: Books, Memories, Reviews

Online Retreat Week 11: Our Response to Love

November 23, 2008 By Sarah Reinhard Leave a Comment

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The Week 11 guide for the Online Retreat in Everyday Life is here.

I remember it clearly. He was picking me up from the airport and had suggested stopping by the Ohio State campus for a walk. He was on the brink of taking the leap – at last – to go to college, fulfilling a lifelong dream. He told me he needed inspiration, and besides, it was on the way home.

For my part, I never turn down a chance to walk on the Oval and reminisce about how much that university means to me. It’s about more than football and college memories. Somehow, while I was there, I cam of age. And then, that night, it became a part of my future in a way I couldn’t have predicted.

There’s a tradition at Ohio State that spans back years called the Long Walk. The Oval is divided by many walkways, and the Long Walk follows the longest walkway, bisecting the area. It starts at the farthest end of the Oval and ends right in front of the Main Library, beneath a statue of William Oxley Thompson, one of the first presidents. Tradition has it that Thompson was a minister, and back when graduations were held on the Oval, he could hand you your degree and perform your wedding ceremony, all in one tidy package.

We were holding hands as we started our evening stroll down the Long Walk on that day in July, 2003. I don’t think we were talking – there’s something about the glow of the lights, the shadows of the old buildings encompassing the Oval, the feel of the library in front of you, that always makes me silent. (The same thing happens when I’m in a beautiful old church, and probably for similar reasons.)

At some point near the halfway mark, Bob reached over with his right hand and said, oh-so-casually, “Hey, would you wear this?” Perched on his pinky was a diamond ring.

I was speechless.

I had THOUGHT we had an agreement – no ring, no asking silly questions you already know the answer to, no being predictable and frivolous with outdated traditions. As it turns out, he had talked to my father, had taken his mother to make sure the ring was just right, had done all the things that, in my contempt for all things traditional, I had feared.

And you know what? It wasn’t so bad. It was, in fact, wonderful.

This week, in our retreat, I thought about my response to Bob on that July evening as I considered how Jesus is holding out his hand to me. It’s not such a different thing. I have my own ideas of what’s right, of what’s supposed to happen, of what my role is. I have this dread of what I think is going to happen, and how terrible it will be to be just like everyone else.

I spend all this time avoiding what’s coming, only to find out that my response, when it comes down to it, is to embrace what’s being offered. That’s all Jesus is asking of us this week.

“Here,” He’s saying, with his arm extended, “take My hand. We’re going to go on a walk, and I won’t leave your side for a second.”

So why is it so hard for me to trust? What will my response be? How can my response be more genuine, more true to what Jesus is asking, more like how Mary responded?