We have a new Bishop. Thank you, Holy Father!

Today,
First Saturday of June,
the Holy Father has appointed
a new Bishop of Aberdeen.

Right Reverend
Hugh Gilbert, O.S.B.

until now
the Abbot of Pluscarden Monastery,
near Elgin in the diocese of Aberdeen.

Thank you, Holy Father!

“The Holy Father, Benedict XVI, has nominated me to succeed Bishop Peter Moran as Bishop of Aberdeen. As a Catholic Christian and Benedictine monk, I accept this as the call of Christ, and, trusting in the help of God and the saints, intend to give myself wholeheartedly, like my predecessors, to the lay people, religious, priests and deacons of this beautiful diocese. ...

“I have much to learn, and it will not be easy to leave my monastery after 37 years. But I do so knowing that I am not going among strangers. I commend myself to the kind hearts and prayers of all whom I am called to serve. Together in Christ may we shine with the light of his Resurrection!”

Source.

Il Santo Padre Benedetto XVI ha accettato la rinuncia al governo pastorale della diocesi di Aberdeen (Scozia), presentata da S.E. Mons. Peter Anthony Moran, in conformità al can. 401 § 1 del Codice di Diritto Canonico.

Il Papa ha nominato Vescovo di Aberdeen (Scozia) il Rev.do Padre Hugh Gilbert, O.S.B., finora Abate del monastero di Pluscarden.

Rev.do Padre Hugh Gilbert, O.S.B.

Il Rev.do Padre Hugh Gilbert, O.S.B., è nato a Emsworth Hants, in Inghilterra, il 15 marzo 1952 da famiglia anglicana. È stato ricevuto nella Chiesa Cattolica a 18 anni, la vigilia di Natale del 1970. Educato in varie scuole a Londra, ha poi frequentato il King's College dell'Università di Londra conseguendovi il Baccalaureato in Storia nel 1974.

Entrato nel monastero di Pluscarden in Scozia, è stato successivamente inviato a Fort Augustus Abbey per gli studi e la preparazione al sacerdozio. Ha emesso la professione monastica solenne nel 1979 ed è stato ordinato sacerdote il 29 giugno 1982.

A Pluscarden, nel 1984, è diventato Sotto-Priore e Vice Maestro dei novizi; nel 1985 Maestro dei novizi. Nominato Priore nel novembre 1990, è stato eletto Abate del monastero il 29 ottobre 1992 e benedetto l'8 dicembre dello stesso anno.

È stato membro del Consiglio dell'Unione dei Superiori monastici dal 1993 al 1997 e dell'Abbot Visitor's Council dal 1995 ad oggi.

English translation:

The Holy Father Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation from pastoral leadership of the Diocese of Aberdeen (Scotland), offered by His Excellency, Mons. Peter Anthony Moran, in conformity with Can. 401 § 1 of the Code of Canon Law.

The Pope has named as Bishop of Aberdeen (Scotland) the Rev. Father Hugh Gilbert, O.S.B., until now the Abbot of the Monastery of Pluscarden.

Rev. Father Hugh Gilbert, O.S.B.

The Reverend Father Hugh Gilbert, O.S.B., was born at Emsworth Hants, in England, on 15th march 1952 of an Anglican family. He was received into the Catholic Church when he was 18, on the vigil of Christmas in 1970. He was educated at various schools in London and then went on to King’s College of the University of London, gaining his Degree in History in 1974.

He entered the Monastery of Pluscarden in Scotland and was later sent to the Fort Augustus Abbey for studies and preparation for the priesthood. He made his solemn monastic profession in 1979 and was ordained a priest on 29th June 1982.

At Pluscarden, in 1984, he became the Sub-Prior and Vice-Master of Novices; in 1985 Master of Novices. Named Prior in November 1990, he was elected Abbot of the Monastery on 29th October 1992 and blessed on 8th December of the same year.

He was a member of the Council of the Meeting of Monastic Superiors from 1993 to 1997 and the Abbot Visitor’s Council from 1995 until today.

(Thanks to JRB, Queensland, Australia for offering us the translation!)

Saturday

My little Puff slept 12 hours last night - 6:50 to 6:50 and went down without a single peep. Her brother was up at 11:30 and then again at 5:10 a.m. when he decided that he had had enough sleep and the world was ready to wake up with him.



Joe volunteered to take him so I could get some more sleep (love that man) and I came downstairs this morning to find this

 

I love that the Ferber book is on the coffee table too. Um, yeah. Clearly Ryan hasn't mastered sleeping at night in his crib yet. But seeing these two snuggling is almost worth a party in his crib at 5 a.m. Almost.

20 Weeks Old

A few days late, but we've been buried by basement construction. The basement is completely finished and painted, now we just have to lay down the floors and move furniture back in and the kids' playroom is complete. We moved some furniture over last night to see how it would look and, of course, half of our stuff doesn't fit right. Thankfully our neighborhood is having a garage sale next weekend and we can sell a bunch of stuff and use those funds to buy some more space appropriate pieces. The fun never ends.

In addition to two weeks of construction (dust, hammering, drilling and heavy metal - the music, not the power tools) coming through the floorboards, the babies both suffered their first fevers. Of course, their fevers broke out on our first 90+ degree day so initially I just thought the babies were too hot sitting with us outside. I moved them back indoors and lo and behold, fever-land broke out. One lukewarm bath and two doses of baby Tylenol later and all was well again.

We are also knees deep in sleep training. Both kids are going down much more easily for naps, Ryan is still having difficulty going to bed at night when Joe puts him down. He goes down pretty easily for me. That's not cool. It's definitely making Joe feel bad, and it makes me feel bad too. I want him to have the same ease with the babies as I do and I'd be lying if I said I didn't want the break once in a while. Ferber's book just arrived. Um, what is with these parenting books being 400+ pages? I think I'm going to start a company that does parenting books on tape. Like I have time to read a 400 page book. But I'll make the time. Sigh. My kids will probably be 9 before I understand sleep training.

Bug is a rolling machine now. You put her on her back and she flips right over to her belly. Strangely, it's as though she forgot that she also knows how to flip from her belly to her back. So after about ten minutes of belly time she goes bananas, and I have to roll her over. As soon as I roll her over again, she stops crying and then rolls right back to her belly. WTH?



Ryan is putting everything in his mouth he can find. The poor munchkin has a rash all over his lower jaw and chin from a combination of the constant drool and friction from all of the things he puts in his mouth (pacifiers, bibs, burp cloths, toys, etc.). I hope he cuts a tooth soon. He's not a happy camper.

In other news, he also discovered his manhood. It happened last week in the bathtub. It started out as a cursory glance to the special spot and then evolved into a lot of, ahem, checking that the spot was still there. Now it's a daily ritual. Over the diaper, under the diaper (one of his sitters was a little generous with the elastic snaps on his diaper and he was able to get his hand in there...), in the bath, during diaper changes. Diaper changing has become an Olympic sport to ensure that he doesn't end up with a handful of poop. Grossness. The joys of boys.



Both babies have learned how to hug and both give kisses. They are, of course, the open mouth kind. It's the sweetest part of my day. Reese will reach for you to pick her up now. She also grabs your face with both hands and gives big, wet, open mouth smooches. With her Daddy, she grabs his face with both hands and plays with his stubble. Ryan loves to pet his Daddy's hair and he loves to lay on your shoulder and cuddle.

 

{ everybody was kung-fu fighting... }

They are laughing machines and are both extremely ticklish. Ryan is ticklish on his upper chest and neck and Reese is ticklish in her underarms and feet. They have the best laughs ever. I need to record their baby laughter before it goes away. They have changed so much in the last month that it's astounding.

The kids are in love with each other and are now completely engaged with each other at all times. I have to do a lot of work to nurse them these days since they distract each other so much. I love that they play together and hug on one another. Thankfully it has finally stopped raining and we have all been able to get out and get some fresh air. Old toys seem new again when you put them in a different setting :)

yesterday and today...

yesterday:

* i announced to the hairdresser i required a vibrant red streak down one side of my hair, i also told her of my plans to grow my tresses long enough to wrap braids around my bonce. further informing her, i was starting now so as to be well equipped with my new braidy wrappy coif, when and as i become a granny. i noted in the reflection of the mirror a bubble coming from her head saying
"barking mad"

* pottled in the thrift store in the hopes of 'switching off' my little brain's cogs which are starting to drive me insane with their incessant talking. noted it was full of the most peachiest finds. i needed to dig deep and find my inner strength to resist all their charms. i left the store with a few forsaken souls and a lovely kitschy bunch of flowers for the kitchen table. i also left the store with guilt due to the other lovelies i left behind 'a wishing and a hoping' for a bit of loving

*put lots of fake flowers on the outside table in the hope of discouraging my 6 chickie peas from spending time on said table. so far it has done the job, but then again, it has only been one day and they were distracted by some lovely things to scratch about in, the other end of the yard. next spot of rain and they will be back on top of the table and chances are this time, they will think it most kind of me to 'pretty up' their little place to sit and rest a while, whilst leaving a trail of dropping and dust

today:

*trying to remove very big creases in three yards of oilcoth, i need heat and as we are lacking in it here, i have resorted to a hairdryer. after a while i had to give up due to guilt again, this time to do with the electricity bill. but there is hope, for tomorrow we have been told Mr Sun is stopping by. we are giddy with the anticipation of his arrival and therefore i will lay my oilcloth outside the minute he arrives and hope he does a nice job of smoothing out the creases so my lovely oilcloth may sit upon the kitchen island looking peachy and not pants

*due to giddiness about possible sighting of Mr Sun, i am hemming two summer frocks. both were maxi dresses with little shoe strings straps in pretty floral fabric from H&M. a bobby bargain but i do not do floor length for fear of tripping or worst still as i whoosh around my shed in floor length dress, i would take all Used Dog's hair with me and worst still than that, quite possibly sweep Little Olive off her little feet and loose her under all the fabric whooshing around my ankles. i can see it now...

"has anyone seen Little Olive?" i would ask my clan, becoming quite distressed at mislaying her.

no one would have seen her and the day would be terribly upsetting. upon going to bed, fretting about my lost little friend i would lift up my maxi dress to do some kind of weird ritual of trying to get it over my head without putting my neck out and Voila! out would pop Little Olive from around my ankles delighted to have been rescued from the folds of my dress and see daylight again.

too risky a risk to take therefore, i shall make them knee length and then ponder if a pocket must be added. for indeed since becoming a cotton hankie user (new years resolution still going strong by jove!) i have needed pockets in all my attire. then tomorrow when the sun is shinning down on me, i will be ready to bare a little flesh in my new sun frock and if i happen to sneeze at his brightness, a handy dandy pocket containing a cotton hankie will be close by

*i am eating stale hobnob cookies from the cupboard, we are almost out of anything with chocolate, fortunately i found an old half eaten packet lurking in the cupboard and such is my withdrawal from the sweet stuff, i am chewing my way through their staleness as i tippity tap this ramble

the happiest of happy weekends for all, would be nice she is thinking ~ Tif

footynote: gosh! just went downstairs and it looks like Bingo Bee and myself are not the only ones at mossy shed anticipating the arrival of Mr Sun