On a Monday in June: Life's Just Ducky
/I find myself:
::noticing God's glory
I replanted the front bed on Friday. The impatiens were getting too much sun. I just hope it's enough sun for the wave petunias. In other news, this adorable rabbit is utterly fearless and has a voracious appetite. Morning glories and roses seem to be favored foods.
::listening to
NBA finals. (I started writing this post Sunday night.)
::clothing myself in
Sweatshirt and jeans. It's chilly out there. And I'm so pleased with myself; I got my glasses adjusted. They're not crooked on my face any more. Love that.
::talking with my children about these books
Since I'm going to share my own reading on Thursdays at needle and thREAD, I thought I'd share some reading from our family's choices. None of these have changed since last week. Clearly, they are not reading enough.
Patrick is reading Walking with God: A Journey through the Bible.
Mary Beth is reading Joy in the Ordinary.
Stephen is reading The Hobbit.
Katie is reading An Ordinary Princess.
Nicholas is reading Teddy Roosevelt and the Treasure of Ursa Major.
And the little girls and I are gathering all our seashore picture books...
I joined Goodreads. I don't remember why or how. I do notice that I've been gathering "friends." To these people, I apologize. I haven't gotten over there to record anything yet. I will, I promise. As soon as I remember what I used to log in the first time:-).
::thinking and thinking
about time and how I want to spend it. I remember when someone first suggested I start to blog. I couldn't imagine finding time in my days to record here with any regularity. But as I grew to love the medium, I found the time. So it has been with other things: knitting, sewing, Facebook, Twitter, the stack of books teetering on my nightstand. (On second thought, maybe not Twitter. I have never quite found my way around there.) I've made plenty of time for prayer. I exercise. I'm really not a time waster. But time is finite and I have learned that I can't just keep organizing it differently and somehow "find" more time. Instead, I'm finding I can't do everything I want to do, even when it's all good. So, I'm thinking and thinking and trying to discern. Lots of opportunities out there; I need to hear what God wants most. Your prayers are much appreciated.
::giving thanks for
my friend Megan, who has a knack for sweeping in and doing and saying just the right thing. Sometimes, an afternoon with Megan does me as much good as a vacation. I'm not kidding.
{the summer from the top of a swing}
::pondering prayerfully
::carefully cultivating rhythm
my plan this week is to write absolutely everything in my planner. I've gotten out of that habit and I think I create stress for myself by not committing it all to writing.
::creating by hand
Sarah's sundress is all cut and ready to sew. I really need to pick up the pace if these girls are going to have handmade wardrobes before the season is too far gone. And I really, really need to return to my quilting project. And I wanted to get a jump on Christmas making. The list is endless! Time, however, is not.
::learning lessons in
setting aside my plans, trying to see God's will in the "revised" plan.
::encouraging learning
I'm happy with our summer learning plans. Just enough to keep us going, not so much we can't soak up the sunshine. Looking ahead, I have talked with an old friend about Alphabet Path and some other things and we have so many ideas. There is a resurgence of joy at the thought of collaborating. And Megan and I talked about next term and I'm excited about some IRL co-opping.
::begging prayers
for all the people who have joined our weekend prayer community. I carried your requests with me to Mass and I will keep a candle lit for you throughout the week.
For my dear friend Jan and her family as the grieve the loss of her father-in-law.
:keeping house
I've got to rearrange some things and clear out some other things to better use my space. This is the week to do it.
::crafting in the kitchen
I have been following these dietary guidelines for treating hypothyroidism. They're pretty hardcore. On Saturday, I "cheated" with a cup of capuccino in the morning and ate a few forks full of cheesecake in the evening. I felt absolutely awful on Sunday. Awful enough to be persuaded that this food thing is for real. I read It Starts with Food Sunday evening. And now, to begin again. ...
It's hard to believe that all this is really necessary, but, the more I read and the more I play with it, the more I think it is.
::loving the moments
Mike left Father's Day evening for Miami. Big games down there this week. He sent me a note while sitting on the tarmac to tell me how happy Father's Day made him. His note made me cry. I'm glad the day was good for him; he works so hard and tries with all his heart to make this life good for us.
::living the liturgy
My kids looked at all that green space on the calendar that indicates Ordinary Time and mourned the passing of this season of feasts. Of course, there are still plenty of scattered feasts to celebrate. I'm hoping to do several hours of planning for coming liturgical feasts this week. I'm motivated to have a plan and to ensure the the traditions of this household don't fade with the busy-ness of the big kids. The big kids need to know the faith will always be celebrated here and the little ones need to learn that those traditions are ours. Not every Catholic home lives the liturgical year. Not every Catholic family grabs greedily at all the graces this life of faith offers. But this one will. It's a beautiful way to live we've been offered and we need to always, always appreciate the gift by living it to its fullest.
::planning for the week ahead
Megan has a big play date planned for my little ones. I have a marathon writing day planned. Same day.
I'd like to step up the sewing pace a bit.
I need to finalize dance school plans.
Some reorganizing, for sure.
And oh, that eating plan: no added sugar, alcohol, grains, legumes, dairy, coffee or nightshades. As my friend Tracey noted: fish and leaves. Fortunately, I like fish and leaves. Hopefully after the Whole 30, some of those other things will prove to not be problematic.
::about the pictures
Our orthodontist donated a bazillion rubber ducks for the pool party on the last day of school. Patrick and Christian are lifeguards at the pool. I remember being a lifeguard at my neighborhood pool growing up. We did a lot of inventive and creative things to pass the hours. Never did we come up with something like these ducks. My boys have turned the ducks into super heroes. People are asking to buy them:-). As far as I know they're not for sale. If you give a boy a Sharpie and some "duck" tape, the possibilities are endless, I tell you.
Don't forget, we've got some giveaways going:
