New home... New chairs

Laura, my mother-in-law, gave us a wonderful dining room set - complete with table and chairs, a bureau, and a china cabinet. They had been in her basement for some years, and the leather covering on the chair seats had gotten quite worn down over the years. I had decided that recovering them would be my first project once we settled in our new home.

Although I've never done such a thing before, or used a staple gun, I figured, how hard can it be? I set out for Hobby Lobby one day and perused their decorative fabric aisles. I knew in my head the colors I wanted to incorporate and the type of design, but I wasn't quite sure if they would have such a thing. Sometimes my ideas and what exists in reality can be far off. Fortunately, that was not the case this day. As soon as I saw it I knew that it would be the fabric for the chairs. I grabbed the roll (I say roll and not bolt because it wasn't with their other fabrics that they keep on bolts... but who knows, maybe this is still considered a bolt).

I had already measured the chair seats prior to this shopping trip, but even so I felt completely intimidated approaching the fabric counter. See, I know next to nothing about fabric - what type of fabric is best for what project, characteristics of each type of fabric, the best way to estimate yardage needed for a project - nope, I have zero smarts in this area... or maybe just lack of experience. Either way, I was hoping that whoever would help me would have some GREAT advice. What a blessing it was then, when the lady who did help me was not only kind, but didn't mind that I had no idea what I was doing. I explained the project and shared my measurements, we laughed together as we both tried to do the math, and then we finally decided where to cut the fabric. Not only was it a pleasant experience, but I learned more about how to use and estimate for my fabric usage!

So, three days and two staple guns later....

This is what I achieved!

The leather on these chairs had been loved A LOT.

The new fabric!

All the supplies I bought (minus scissors) with the wooden chair seat.

The final comparison. I think they turned out fantastically!

So, this project has really encouraged the other endeavors I have cooped up in my head. I would really like to make our apartment feel a bit more homey. With one task under my belt, I have already begun my next project (more like a series of projects): stripping and staining various pieces of furniture, namely, our dresser, a chest of drawers, and two bookshelves. This project will obviously take much more time and precision, but I'll be sure to put up some photos.

My last thought: Last year, as I was teaching, I was saddened of how little I was able to use my hands to do my work. Oh sure, writing on the whiteboard used them, and typing on my computer, but I have always been a kinesthetic learner. I love to play sports, rearrange spaces, to draw, sculpt, cook, bake, etc. I am finally so happy to have the opportunity to work with my hands. Praise God, and thank you!

Would you cut your toe nails in the pew before Mass?

"Why, of course not!" I hope you thought in your head, or perhaps you chuckled at the ridiculousness and absurdity of such a question, but unfortunately I witnessed just such a thing last evening.

There was a Mass being held to kick-off the religious education program at our church, and afterwards the students would have a chance to meet their teachers. I volunteered to fill in wherever needed this year and an 8th grade position opened up. So... that's where I am! Eighth grade - well, it certainly won't be boring! Anyway, back to the story...

So there I was, I had arrived at Mass some minutes beforehand so that I could prepare to receive our Lord. I try to sit up front in order to not be distracted, which would have been of high probability due to the amount of children, so I sat in the second row. A mother, her two daughters (or a daughter and a friend, I'm not sure which), and her son were sitting in the row ahead of me. While the church was by no means quiet, I knelt down to pray. I noticed as I was putting the kneeler down that the daughter was playing on her cell phone, momentarily I was a bit shocked, but then, not surprised. I was prompted to indignation at the lack of reverence and respect she was showing to our Lord, or rather at the mother's lack of direction to prompt her child to prayer, but I just tried to refocus on preparation for Mass. Not more than a moment later I heard, click, click, click, click.... click, click... and it kept going. It was followed by a whispered, but surprised, "Mom, what are you doing?!" And then a giggle. At this point, I was thoroughly distracted and opened my eyes to see the MOTHER CLIPPING HER TOE NAILS!

And then my heart broke.

Hot, fiery anger rose to my chest, and tears welled up in my eyes. Really? She's clipping her toe nails? In this holy place? Right before we pray together and receive God into our beings? Lord, how could she? Here was a mother who was showing these children that it was not only okay, but also appropriate to clip toe nails in church before Mass. Lord, have mercy. My anger quickly evaporated with my next thought. This woman probably has no idea, and little comprehension, or understanding of the sacredness of the Holy Eucharist. She probably doesn't understand the holiness of the ground on which she stands (or rather, sits). But these children! These poor children who are being led away from sanctity by their mother, the very person who is the primary educator of faith (along with her husband) to her children. She is supposed to lead them to heaven, but rather... well, I can't make presumptions, but would you say that by her actions she was leading her children to heaven?

Not knowing exactly what to do, and wanting to do five different things at once, (grab the clippers, gently explain to the children proper pre-Mass behavior, lecture the mother, cry, or pray fervently for their souls) I settled on a prayer that came immediately to my head: the Fatima prayer. There are many Fatima prayers and I'm not sure if this one has a specific name, but it gave me a chance to pray for this family, for all the families there, and for all those whose ignorance keeps them from loving and adoring our Lord.

My God I believe, I adore, I trust, and I love Thee,

and I ask pardon for all those who do not believe,

do not adore, do not trust, and do not love Thee.

Amen.

I was advised by a priest at my old parish to pray this three times in a row, but I found myself continuing beyond the three times. Throughout the prayer I felt sorrow for the family in front of me. I know that I, too, can be distracted in church, and at times need to be prompted back to reverence. Sometimes it's too easy to casually dismiss the call to proper preparation before Mass. In our humanness we can subconsciously avert our attention from the great mystery of the Holy Eucharist. At that moment, the Lord graced me with a tiny bit of the giant love He has for this family. They don't know any better. The mother might, but her children probably not. And what if she, too, grew up in a similar situation, and is only teaching her children what she knows? They did come to Mass. They didn't blow it off, or stay home to watch television, or whatever else people busy themselves with when they don't want to attend Mass.

In the last minutes before Mass began, I found my prayer raised to praise. Praise you, Lord, for this family, for this mother who brought her children to Mass, for even if she isn't showing the best example of reverence in church, at least by bringing her children to Mass she is showing them that it's important. Thank you, Jesus, for this family and the road they are traveling to holiness.

After all that, Mass began. It was probably the most distracting Mass I've ever been to, but it was Mass, and Jesus was there. I had to chuckle to myself then when at the homily Monsignor told the story of Our Lady of Fatima and taught all the children the prayer I had been prompted to pray before Mass!