Small Successes-10

1

I cleaned out under the couch cushions in the family room. I'm fairly certain there was a meal and an entire load of laundry there.

   
2
I've stuck with my own version of the "reckless experiment with prayer." I've been nearly perfect with this and pretty darn good with this. This was fair, except for the part where I forgot Nicky's first baseball practice ever (I can't imagine how people who don't plan get where they're supposed to be). I've been very faithful to the bedtime routine this week and I'm good with the conscious part of this, but I do admit to falling asleep pretty much the minute my head hits the pillow.

3
I am still working out, despite the fact that progress is excruciatingly slow. I've made peace with the fact that, try as I might, I don't look like my 26-year-old postpartum self. I tell myself that I'm a much stronger middle-aged postpartum mother of nine than I was three months ago. And I am. I know this because I carried Karoline up a very steep hill at soccer last weekend. I did it at a speed only the mother of a newly potty-trained two-year-old can understand. I felt a bit like Rocky on steps. But when we got to the porta potty that was the goal, I was not rewarded. Instead, I was met with the hysterical, high pitched screams of one curly-haired cherub who could not be persuaded that it was just fine to pee in blue water that didn't flush.
 
 

What are your successes this week? This is a great exercise in holding ourselves accountable and patting ourselves on the back. Mothering and homemaking don't have built in performance reviews and bonuses. The  internet can be a source of support and encouragement. Let's encourage one another in our small successes. Share them at Faith and Family Live!

She said "Yes!"

And so we celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation

Angel Food Cake
~
the First Fresh Blueberries of the Season
~
Pure, White Whipped Cream
~
Chilled Sparkling Red Zinger Tea

~

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,

to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary.

And coming to her, he said, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you."

But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.

Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.

He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,

and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."

But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?" 

And the angel said to her in reply, "The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.

And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived  a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;

for nothing will be impossible for God."

Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

how to get a good night’s sleep

New column here.

Lent Day 25

Fast: Let go of self-recrimination. “There is still timefor endurance, time for patience, time for healing, time for change. Have you slipped? Rise up. Have you sinned? Cease. Do not stand among sinners, but leap aside.” — St. Basil the Great

Pray: For a few minutes tonight, after your children are sleeping, kneel beside their beds. Let your breath rise and fall with theirs. Entrust them to the Father and thank Him for lending them to you.

Give: Do not say “In a minute” or “When I finish this” at all today. Instead, put aside your agenda and meet their needs (and even some wants) immediately and cheerfully.

Nicky-isms

When Mike brought home the current standings for the ESPN Washington office pool, Nicky (who is eight) learned that his brackets are right up near the top. I asked him what he was going to do with the prize money if he should win. "You know," he said, in his slow, serious way, "money is losing value really fast. I think it's important I spend it right away."

Last night was an off night for the NCAA tournament so Nick tuned into the NIT. He asked Christian what "NIT" stood for.
"Not Important Tournament," Christian answered without missing a beat.
"Why would they name it that? It's bad marketing decision. No one is going to watch a Not Important Tournament!" Nick proclaimed.

And the boy who has a head for sports stats, money, and marketing decisions has decided that he wants to work at ESPN. Since his brackets are currently well ahead of the hosts of both Pardon the Interruption and Around the Horn, he's saving this weeks standings to attach to his resume one day.