Happy Morning Crafting

Gracie is an early bird, often ready for the day to begin an hour or more before the other girls awaken. Nicholas is often up, too, but he wants his quiet and his sports headlines and he isn't a very good early morning companion. Just so happens that Gracie doesn't really need to talk to anyone in the morning; she's happiest with a bottle of glue, some markers and popsicle sticks. Crazy, ridiculous happy.

 

So, this summer, I called to mind my own happy mornings at a preschool in Charlottesville, where we'd take a few moments the night before to prepare a table for arriving children the following morning. Usually, we'd leave out the makings of a very simple craft or drawing activity. The assumption is that teachers might be busy greeting children or talking with parents, so these should be activities that required little or no instruction or supervision. Honestly, though, I loved it when I could pull up an undersized chair and work right alongside them.

This summer, the "school" table in the sunroom has been a perpetual craft table. I tidy it at night and try to leave something inspiring there for Gracie and whoever shakes off sleep and joins her there.

 

My very favorite activity at that long-ago preschool was making "stained glass pictures." (I've even shared it with you previously.) We'd cut tissue paper into squares and leave them in a basket for the children. Then, we'd water down some liquid starch and provide soft paintbrushes and plain white copy paper (this doesn't work as well with construction paper). The children would place the dry squares on the white paper and then paint over them with starch, overlapping at will. Can't quite capture it, but there's something infinitely relaxing and rewarding about this process. Really, you must try it.

 

This summer, we took the basic idea and tried it with glass jars, after I saw something similar on a blog I've now forgotten. [Please email me if this was you--I'm happy to link:-)]

Instead of starch, I used diluted white glue. I gathered jars of all sorts. My favorite shape is a Dijon mustard jar.

 

The children "painted" on the squares, being careful not to leave any edges dry.

 

It was a rewarding process and they were surprised to see how different each person's jar was, though they'd all begun with the same materials.
 

The finished product is both beautiful and useful.
 

While they make lovely flower vases, do be careful. They don't take kindly to water drips and filling and emptying is most definitely a mom job.

 

They make lovely votive candle holders, though.
 

And my absolute favorite pencil holder ever.
 

Beautiful, useful crafts that even the littlest hands can successfully complete.

Happy summer morning!

For Patrick on the First Day of the Big Adventure

I heard this song for the first time on our drive back from the beach. I caught Mary Beth's eye in the rearview mirror and we mutually understood a slideshow was on the way. Bailey and Mary Beth were up way too late last night, editing. You've got our prayers, buddy. Here's our wish.

Preparing for the Feast of St. Monica

 St. Monica is commemorated on August 27. A holy woman who spent a great deal of her life on her knees in tears, she was the wife of a cruel, pagan husband and a wayward son. She prayed unceasingly for them. At the end of his life, her husband did convert to Christianity. Her son, after gallivanting about and leading a life of sin, was baptized in Christ and became the great St. Augustine.

In the past few days, I have heard from so many tearful mothers. They are sending sons and daughters out into the world. Some of them are letting go just a little bit--a bus ride to kindergarten, a bike ride alone, a week away at grandparents. Others are sending their children hundreds or thousands of miles away to live apart from them. These kids aren't, for the most part, wayward young Augustines. Yet, mothers everywhere understand the tearful imploring of St. Monica for God's protection and provision for her child. I've promised the mothers who have written that I will pray for them and for their children and I've asked them to pray for me and mine. 

Isn't it a beautiful thing that the Church draws our attention to St. Monica at this time of year? Just as I can pray for you and you can pray for me, St. Monica, eternal soul in heaven with the Father, can pray for us both. 

Exemplary Mother of the Great Augustine,

You perseveringly pursued your wayward son

Not with wild threats 

But with prayerful cries to heaven. 

Intercede for all mothers in our day 

So that they may learn 

To draw their children to God. 

Teach them how to remain

Close to their children, 

Even the prodigal sons and daughters 

Who have sadly gone astray. 

Dear St Monica, troubled wife and mother, 

Many sorrows pierced your heart

During your lifetime. 

Yet you never despaired or lost faith. 

With confidence, persistence and profound faith, 

You prayed daily for the conversion

Of your beloved husband, Patricius 

And your beloved son, Augustine. 

Grant me that same fortitude, 

Patience and trust in the Lord. 

Intercede for me, dear St. Monica, 

That God may favorably hear my plea 

For 

(mention your petition here) 

And grant me the grace 

To accept his will in all things, 

Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, 

In the unity of the Holy Spirit, 

One God forever and ever. Amen.

Right now, I have no grand plans for this Feast. We'll pray the novena, light a candle. celebrate Mass, and have a nice tea time. St. Monica, pray for us!

This icon is by the hand of Nicholas Papas.

Safe People

I mentioned yesterday that I am reading Safe People: How to find relationshipsthat are good for you and avoid those that aren’t.  Several people wrote to ask about it. Perhaps the best way to summarize is to offer the list of traits of unsafe people. The authors help the reader to see any of these traits in herself, as well as delineating how to relate to other people who have these traits.

Here's a list of red flags (of course, no one has them all and we all have at least a little of some).This list serves as good check on the character of your friends or  a mirror with which to see your own relationship flaws:

1. They think they have it all together instead of admitting their weaknesses.

2. They are religious instead of spiritual.

3. Unsafe people are defensive instead of open to feedback.

4. They are self-righteous instead of humble.

5. They only apologize instead of changing their behavior.

6. They avoid working on their problems and growing in virtue.

7. They demand trust instead of earning it.

8. They believe they are perfect instead of admitting their faults.

9. Unsafe people blame others instead of taking responsibility.

10.Unsafe people lie instead of telling the truth.

11. They are stagnant instead of growing.

12.  Unsafe people avoid closeness instead of connecting.

13. Unsafe people are only concerned about "I" instead of "we."

14. They resist freedom instead of encouraging it.

15. They flatter us instead of confronting us.

16. Unsafe people condemn instead of forgiving us--they confront not to correct and forgive but to condemn and punish.

17. Unsafe people don't relate to us as equals.

18. They are unstable over time instead of being consistent.

19. They are a negative influence on us, rather than a positive one.

20. Unsafe people gossip instead of keeping confidences.

One of those rare, life-changing books that you pass on to the people you love.

Daybook: Soccer Camp Week

Outside My Window

“Downtown” McLean, Virginia. I’ve set up at a Starbucks this morning and I'll be back here again this afternoon. Mary Beth and I decided that it was really silly to drag everybody to soccer camp this week. They’re happier at home. So, I’m here alone for two hours this morning and again this afternoon. I’m thinking this could be an exceptionally productive computer week.

I am Listening to

It’s noisy here! People talking, background music, traffic noise, and the espresso machine and blenders.

I am Wearing

A pale green embellished t-shirt, khaki skimmers, flip flops, and silver and pearl drop earrings.

I am so Grateful for

~the hope of new beginnings.

~the dear friend who called me between the Romaine lettuce and the avocados at Costco. Somehow, she knew I was thinking “Paddy can make one more Caesar salad before he goes, but these avocados won’t be ripe in time for him to make guacamole.” And so, the rest of my shopping trip was blessed with understanding, good advice, and the wisdom of the Church Fathers.

~ Homecomings. Not sure I’ve ever been so glad to have Mike home as I was yesterday.

I'm Pondering

"The child breathes the atmosphere emanating from his parents; that of the ideas which rule their own lives” (Charlotte Mason, Vol. 2, p. 247).

I am Reading

Safe People: How to find relationships that are good for you and avoid those that aren’t

It’s an excellent, insightful book. My friend Linda gave it to me in August of 2003. I wish I had read it then. It’s all about healthy relationships and how to both choose good friends and be a good friend. I think it’s a good read for late teenagers and twenty-somethings, too.

I am Thinking

Truth be told, I’m thinking incessantly about Paddy and the opportunities and the discerning that lies ahead of him. But for the next week, I’m going to do my pondering in my heart.

I am Creating

Blog posts, this week, I think. I’m trying to put a positive spin on Soccer Camp Week and maybe blog ahead a bit, knowing that things will be very busy in the weeks to come and that I’ve not been able to find much blogging time in the last few months. We’ll see what four hours a day for five days does for me. Of course, I’m also still being called by the addictive compulsion to keep creating plans at the CM Organizer, so that will share time with the blog.

On my iPod

Redwall from Audible.com! Yippee! This is Redwall read by Brain Jacques, who really wrote this book for radio. It’s a wonderful literary experience, even for those of us who usually  have trouble with talking rodents. I can’t say enough about these books. They launched Michael into a literary world when he was ten—he went from being a tentative reader to being a voracious reader and from being a terrible speller and barely-writer to being prolific and eloquent.

Towards a Real Education

Each of the little boys is getting an hour and a half of read aloud time, listening to Redwall back and forth from soccer camp. That counts.

Of course it does.

Towards Rhythm and Beauty

This is the week we all learn if my checklists in the home management notebook will really work on their own. My children are home with the lists. I’m here with a grande soy latte. Wonder how the house is running? 

To Live the Liturgy

I so wish this weren’t the week Fr. Taylor was going to be gone all week. I so wish it…

Big week.

I am Hoping and Praying

For Patrick Hart and his family. Patrick and Michael were little boys together. His mother Kathy is a kindred spirit and has long been one of the most amazing examples of grace and strength in the face of tragedy I’ve ever known. Patrick has recently been diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease and is fighting for his life. Please, please pray with me! They need a miracle. Another miracle. But Kathy Believes in Miracles.

In the Garden

Some volunteer Morning Glories popped up out of nowhere while we were at the beach. I love these flowers—they speak my language. I can so relate to sweet, simple blossoms that bloom bright and early with all sorts of hope and beauty and delight in the day and then start to fade by early afternoon and go to sleep very early. Karoline loves them, too, and tells us that they are how God says, “Good Morning!”

Around the House

I wonder why I thought it necessary to clean before 6 college soccer players camped in my house? Now, my house looks exactly like 8 teenaged and early twenty boys were there, along with the 6 other children…

From the Kitchen

I did some big cooking this weekend (along with my B&B duties) so that I have freezer meals good-to-go this week. It reminded me of back when I did once-a-month cooking. It might just be time to revisit that this fall.

One of My Favorite Things

Ann Voskamp’s blog. She reads my  heart. Yes, my friend. We’re focusing on beginnings. Thank you for the beautiful reminder.

Sarah Annie this week

She is my sweet Morning Glory. Up early, she loves her quiet nursing time and then breakfast with me, followed by sitting on the porch and watching the birds eat breakfast, followed by breakfast with Daddy. What joy she brings to the day’s beginning.

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week

Michael left for pre-season camp yesterday.

The little boys have camp all week.

Patrick takes summer soccer camp to unprecedented heights. Please pray for him. Thy will be done!

Picture thoughts: