On a Monday Morning at Home

I find myself:

::noticing God's glory

and wishing it would snow. I've been treated to the sunshine and fair winds of Florida for the last two weeks. Now, I'm kind of hoping to hunker down and cozy in at home. A snowstorm would be just perfect right now--a chance to just be home and be settled. Otherwise, all the little grids in my planner are daunting. Really daunting.

::listening to 

Mike's Blackberry chime. He's sitting here beside me. This is a rare event because I try to stay away from the computer when he's around, but he's been around all the time for two weeks now, so we're making an exception.

::clothing myself in 

a Disney sweatshirt:-).

::giving thanks for

• a safe trip
• fine weather
• the chance to visit with my mother and stepfather and my dear aunts and uncle.
• Disney magic (which isn't magic at all--more on that later. Much more.)

::pondering prayerfully

 If creativity is a habit, then the best creativity is the result of good work habits. They are the nuts and bolts of dreaming. ~Twyla Tharp

::clicking around these links

No clicking. I just deleted over 1000 new posts on Google Reader. I sure hope I didn't miss anything really good. Let me know if you know of a not-to-be-missed link from the last two weeks. Oh, but do read this article. Michael told me about it and seconded it by telling me of a similar interview at USA Today. This guy is for real.

 

::turning the pages of this book

The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp. Lots of food for thought in this one. Sarah recommended it.

::creating by hand

Gosh! I have a whole list of things I've been itching to get to do. I'm going to start with a baby quilt for a dear February baby. And I think I'm going to try one of these scarves for myself. I think I'm on a little bit of scarf kick. And I promised every child in my family a flannel cozy. They want them yesterday. It's cold and they're complaining just a bit. Oh, and I'm thinking about Project Life. I'd really like to jump in. I have the kit and everything to go back and record my big boys' millions of picture currently in shoeboxes. But, oh, that digital idea? It's very, very tempting... On the other hand, it's a Shutterfly partnership and I 've been disappointed with the quality of shutterfly's printing on calendars and cards lately. Anybody have thoughts on this?

 

::learning lessons in

organization. I've been taking notes, at least mentally. I've come to the conclusion that some of the happiest, most creative places I know are extremely organized. I'm very motivated to re-visit my long-forgotten home organization notebook, update it, and implement some other organizational ideas I have buzzing in my brain. Within hours of arriving home, I'd completely cleaned out the pantry, reorganized three kitchen cabinets, re-organized all the bathroom cabinets, and fully stocked the refrigerator. 

Wedding planning. Here's where I ask (for the first time) for all your great ideas. Let's talk weddings and receptions. particularly if you are local and you know a great venue or caterer, please chime in!

::encouraging learning 

first up in my organized world: a very systematic school week. 

 

::carefully cultivating rhythm

When we were at Disney, our days were planned very carefully. We had a list, all written out, of what we were going to do when. We didn't follow the list. Our plans changed as circumstances dictated change. But we started with a plan and our serendipitous discoveries were all the better for having the plan from which to begin. There is going to be some carefully cultivated rhythm in this house henceforth.

::begging prayers

for my dear friend Colleen, as she meets incomprehensible grief of another child she will not hold here on earth, while going forward to embrace God's plan for her family in a foreign land. Her courage, her determination and her resolve to never, ever relinquish hope inspire me daily. Godspeed, my friend.

and for Mary Beth as she makes some difficult choices and some big changes.

::keeping house

I'm on a tear. Nothing like spending two weeks in beautiful homes and hotels to make one want to renovate the whole house;-).

::crafting in the kitchen 

Mike and I went out this morning and shopped for the week. We're all stocked up and my menus are made. It was astounding how our grocery bill compared to the last two weeks' eating out bills. We won't think about that now, though. Oh, and I think I'm going to take the Green Smoothie Challenge.

::loving the moments

There were so many moments. I'm grateful for all the time we had together. It was good. Very, very good.

::living the liturgy

I'm sort of lost liturgically. It was Christmas still when we left. Michael and Kristin took down the tree while we were gone and carefully put it away. But there are still little remnants of Christmas trimmings here and there. I'm focusing anew on praying the Hours and bringing myself into the presence of the universal Church. I'm ready to sink into Ordinary time. And, oh happy day, there are enough peppermint candles left to ease the transition this week. Life smells sweet.

 

::planning for the week ahead

I begin with the orthodontist at 7:15 this morning. Stephen popped two bands while we were gone.Have I mentioned that my orthodontist never sleeps? I'm pretty sure he doesn't. And he's very cheerful early in the morning. From there, it's back into the full swing of learning and playing and dancing and driving. While we were in Disney World, I walked 5-10 miles a day. Most of the time, I was carrying Sarah. I feel like that was a great jumpstart to a new, more active me. I am determined to get in an hour of exercise every day.

What will You be Doing on 12/21/2012?

I'm growing tired of the gloom and doom. I plan to celebrate Nicky's 12th birthday that day. Here are my thoughts on all the doomsday hoo-ha. Shouldn't we live every day like it's the last?

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual.  Photo capturing a moment from the week.  A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, visit Soulemama to leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

A Beautiful Scarf from Start to Finish {Even you don't sew it, skip to the end to see how to tie it}

Mary Beth is my best encourager when it comes to handwork. She's happy to listen to my sewing ideas or help me hunt down the perfect yarn or knitting pattern. She even likes to sew a bit herself (though she doesn't quite admit it). But as many moms of teenagers know, it's not always easy to make something for them. They don't seem to appreciate the fine line between handmade and homemade;-).

So, when I hit upon these scarves and I stitched the first one up( a gift for my mom) and Mary Beth looked more than a little interested, I pounced. I made one for her--my very first middle-of-the night sewing project. It was ready when she headed off to the mall with her oh-so-stylish dance friends the next morning. She wore it well and was rather delighted when even store clerks commented and asked her where she got it. 

I had had grand plans to make a jacket from Anna Maria Horner Innocent Crush velveteen for me to wear for Christmas Eve. I never got to it. Not even close. So, Mary Beth graciously offered me her scarf so that I could have just a little bit of that lovely AMH color to wear after all.

 

Together, we decided we needed a few more. So, when I should have been packing for Disney, I did a little sewing.

I highly recommend buying the kits, unless you are going to make several scarves of the same fabric combinations. It's two long, narrow pieces of fabric in lovely, luxurious voile. The kits are actually a more affordable way to manage the fabric purchase. (Besides, I love to order directly from the artist. In this case, it was late at night when I started to do my first and I emailed "the company," confessing I needed some direction. Anna herself emailed me back lickety-split. That was an unexpected bonus. My personal rule is always to order from the artist or author directly if possible. It's just the nice thing to do, all around. And I know firsthand that authors like to hear from you.)

Even if you buy the kit, expect to do some trimming. Both fabrics need to match each other exactly. Pin right sides together, being generous with pins because that lovely voile is a bit slippery.

Use a fine needle. I used these and I was very glad I did. It makes a big difference when machine stitching voile. I started in the middle of a shorrt row--it doesn't work so well to start at the corners. I left about a three inch opening so that I could turn the scarff right side out. I marked the opening by putting two pins at the beginning and end of where I'd stitch, so that I remember to stop. I used my quarter inch foot so that my seam would be super-straight, stopping with the needle down and pivoting around the corners. I backtacked at the begnning and end.

Then, I trimmed the corners to reduce the bulk. 

Turned the whole scarf rightside out.

Poked those corners nice and square with a chopstick.

Then I really took my time rolling that seams out as flat as possible to press, so that only the right fabric would show on either side.

Lots of steam. Press well. (Make a note to make a new ironing board cover before ever showing pressing pictures again.)

I tucked the unfinished edges of the hole where I'd turned the scarf under and pressed those well and pinned a bit. Then I stitched all the way around, using about an 1/8 inch seam.

Then I looked to my expert for a tying tutorial.

Grab the scarf in the middle and hold the loop.

Pull it around your neck.

Take one tail and put it through the loop.

Take the other tail and put it over the top of the loop.

And then put it under the bottom loop.

Fuss with it a bit to show the sides of the fabric you want to show.

Very pretty!

We might have made a few!

(Oh, and when I went to link today, I noticed all sorts of new things in Anna Maria's shop. My birthday money has been allocated accordingly;-).

Teaching charity, hope to your children through sponsorship

Guest post by Shanxi Omoniyi, web editor and writer for Christian Foundation for Children and Aging (CFCA).

One of my sweetest childhood memories is writing letters to my family's sponsored child.

My parents have a long history of child sponsorship, and they encouraged us to write to their sponsored children. We were maybe 8 or 9 at the time.

I remember looking at the children's pictures, reading their letters and wondering what their lives were like.

Brenda, CFCA sponsored child in El Salvador.

Today I work as web editor and writer for Christian Foundation for Children and Aging.  CFCA is a lay Catholic sponsorship organization serving more than 300,000 children, youth and aging persons around the world.

CFCA's Hope for a Family sponsorship program provides personal attention and direct benefits to children, youth and elderly and their families so they may live with dignity, achieve their potential and participate fully in society.

From my experience, I highly recommend sponsorship for several reasons. It's a practical way to put your faith in action and answer the Gospel call to serve the poor by helping someone in need. (Mt. 25:31-46)

From left are Rosa and Victoria, two elderly women served through CFCA's sponsorship program in Chile. CFCA is the only major U.S.-based sponsorship organization to sponsor the elderly as well as children.

It's also a wonderful opportunity for your whole family to meet another person across geographic, cultural and economic divides.

Geography lessons

Tanzania, Uganda, Honduras, Nicaragua – all these countries were labels on a map when I was a child.

When you sponsor someone in another country, though, you make an instant connection to their world. That includes the place where they live.

"I keep a map near my desk with the geographic locations of our family's two sponsored children in Guatemala marked," said CFCA sponsor Paula Kiger. "It has helped me be a lot more aware of how things may impact them (like weather, tropical storms, etc.) and just helps me have a more literal 'grip' on the truth of their existence."

Cultural immersion

Letters are the primary window you'll have into your sponsored friend's life.

Through correspondence I've learned about sponsored children's families, favorite foods, hobbies, holiday traditions and so much more.

We pray for each other. They become our "family" from another country.

CFCA sponsor Kim Hope and her sponsored child, Nayeli, from the Dominican Republic.

CFCA also offers the opportunity to visit your sponsored friend through mission awareness trips.

These trips are in-depth immersion experiences that introduce sponsors to their friends and families, while also seeing the countries where they live.

"We are so grateful to have been able to go on two trips to Guatemala and to have spent time with our sponsored children, some members of their wonderful family, and dozens of other sponsored children and aged," said CFCA sponsor Elysa Koss. "We hope to go again sometime in the future. It will be like returning to family members."

More than a handout

Recently my newest sponsored child, Victor, sent me a letter from Kenya. The delight of opening and reading it has never grown old.

Recent letter from Victor, my sponsored child in Kenya! His mother wrote while he drew the pictures.

Victor lives in a house built of wooden walls, an iron sheet roof and cement floors. His mother is a widow and had trouble making ends meet before sponsorship. She works as a casual laborer, washing clothes for others to earn a living.

Through my monthly sponsorship contribution, Victor's able to go to school and have enough to eat. He even gets a birthday and Christmas present through CFCA.

Beyond the physical benefits, I hear through his letters about the encouragement sponsorship provides. Victor's grades have been consistently improving, and his mother belongs to a CFCA mothers group where she can meet other mothers of sponsored children for community support.

CFCA mothers groups and parent groups in communities around the world also offer support through livelihood initiatives that help empower parents in their efforts to earn additional income and build a path out of poverty for their families.

One of my favorite quotes is from Mother Teresa: "In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love."

To me sponsorship is a small thing that shows great love. It provides hope not only to Victor and his family, but also to me. While I can't change the world, I can help change Victor's world. That makes all the difference.

Try it and see. You'll be amazed at the difference sponsorship can make – not only in the life of a child or elderly friend, but in yours and your family's as well!

Questions? Visit our website (www.hopeforafamily.org), call 1.800.875.6564 or email mail@cfcausa.org.