31 Days to Remind Myself of the Mission

"Increasingly, I find that women are unsure about what it means to be a good mother. They are confused by a culture that send them drastically mixed messages about the importance of a mother's influence and whet her priorities should be. As a result, so many mothers I meet are baffled and frustrated. They don't know how to reconcile these conflicting messages with the calling of God on their hearts and lives.

What's the cure for this confusion? I believe it lies with a rediscovery of the traditional mission of motherhood, a rediscovery of what God had in mind when he designed families. And the fundamental mission of motherhood now is the same as it always was: to nurture, protect, and instruct children, to create a home environment that enables them to learn and grow, to help them develop a heart for God and His purposes, and to send them out into the world prepared to live both fully and meaningfully. It's up to us to embrace that mission as our own, trusting God to walk us through the details and to use our willing mothers' hands as instruments of his blessings."

~Sally Clarkson, The Mission of Motherhood

I've been deeply pondering mission lately. I look around (click around) and there are so many good ideas, so many ways to go, so many rabbit trails enticing me to hop along down a different path. I am impassioned by the needs in my community and the needs in worlds far away from my home. I want to travel, to serve, to do big things to make a difference for God.

And then there is my written mission. Long have words been my instruments. What is God saying? What does He want me to tell? How best to convey the message?The internet has made those questions dizzying. There is so much out there and to publish now is to have a firm grasp on all of it. No one wants a writer without a social network platform. No more curling up on the porch in your jeans with a Bible and pecking out a few words. Now, authors must build dynasties. It's impossible to scroll through my Twitter feed without countless people telling me what new "must do" is on the social network scene. Today, it was "Why Bloggers Must Adapt or Die." Every day, it's something. And it's never something that gives me more time and attention for my children. Honestly, it makes me wonder if it wouldn't really be wiser just to let the blogger in me die.

It used to be that writing about marriage and motherhood just grew out living marriage and motherhood, praying about marriage and motherhood, and some very intentional (limited) reading about marriage and motherhood. Now, it's gotten really complicated to be a mom.

I am bombarded (are you, too?). Pinterest and a million good ideas a day, but no time or energy left to bring them all to life. Facebook and dozens of connections and thoughts and inspirations (and arguments) but no one with a kitchen table where we can just sit and have tea. And Twitter. Relationships built on sand 140 characters at a time.

It's so easy to be distracted from the mission.

So, what to do when I think that really it might be better not to spend so much time investing online? Why, sign up to write something on a topic every single day for the next 31 days, of course! I am nothing if not a contradiction. 

My idea is that I must wrestle this one to the ground. I'm going to take one solid biblically based book, written by a woman who has walked this path before me and whose children have grown into Godly young people and I am going to be still long enough to steep in the wisdom. I'm not going to flit from one shiny idea to an other. I'm not going to blog bounce. I'm not going to tweet or update statuses. I'm going to spend 31 days reading, praying, and reminding myself of vocation.

vocation

A call from God to a distinctive state of life, in which the person can reach holiness. The Second Vatican Council made it plain that there is a "Universal call [vocatio] to holiness in the Church" (Lumen Gentium, 39). (Etym. Latin vocatio, a calling, summoning; from vocare, to call.)

Here's the thing: I am never certain what God is calling me to do outside my home. I wonder about being a missionary abroad. I wonder about apostolates in my community. I look at what other women are doing for God online and I'm blown away by their energy, efficiency, and productivity and I wonder if I'm not squandering something at the computer.

But I have always been certain  that God calls me to serve Him in my home, with my family. I am certain that He calls me to holiness here. 

So, 31 days to remind myself of the mission. He's calling my heart home. Still. 

Fair warning: I have no idea what this is going to look like. I'm going to read and to pray, to journal here. I'm going to be committed to home and to family and to listening to my Creator. The rest? We shall see. My blog is not my "brand." It's my scrapbook of thoughts and photographs.

Are you thinking about the mission of motherhood, too? I'm going to join The Nester for 31 Days. I'm going to host a 31 day "retreat"here  to remind myself (and anyone who wants to come along) of the mission of motherhood and matrimony. If you want to do your own 31 Days on anything you choose, head here and join! If you want to retreat from the noise of the 'net for a month and focus your own sweet home and family, grab a “Remind Myself of the Mission” button and curl up with a candle, your Bible, and this good book! Let me know your thoughts below. We can help each other hear His mission. You can add a Remind Myself button by cutting and pasting the code below.

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Day 2 On MIssion and Mentors and Miles to Go Before I Sleep

Day 3 Interrupted

Day 4 The One Where Titus 2 Catches Me and Makes Me Look it in the Face

Day 5 I'm subduing; that's what I'm doing

Day 6 I Live for This

Day 7 "it is right to begin with the obligations of home"

Day 8 God's Bountiful Blessing

Day 9 Homecoming

Day 10 The Undivided Heart

Day 11 The Undivided Heart Take 2

Day 12 A Servant Mother

Lord, Hear Our Prayer

The internet is a formidable force for bringing the comfort and consolation and hope of the Lord to all of us. It can be an incredibily powerful medium for community. There is an unfathomable resource for prayer here. We have on the 'net the privilege of praying for people and of being witness to the miracles brought forth when fervent, faith-filled people pray for one another.

Let's be that community of hope and faith for one another.

How about this idea? What if I pop in here every weekend, share Sunday's gospel and talk a wee bit about how we can live it and pray it in our homes? And then you tell me how we can pray for you that week? Deal?

{And please, do return and let us know how prayer is bearing fruit.}

Gospel 

Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

At that time, John said to Jesus,
"Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name,
and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us."
Jesus replied, "Do not prevent him.
There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name
who can at the same time speak ill of me.
For whoever is not against us is for us.
Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink
because you belong to Christ, 
amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.

"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,
it would be better for him if a great millstone
were put around his neck
and he were thrown into the sea.
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.
It is better for you to enter into life maimed
than with two hands to go into Gehenna,
into the unquenchable fire.
And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off.
It is better for you to enter into life crippled
than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna.
And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.
Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye
than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna,
where 'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'"

Think

"We should go even beyond doing what is required in order to avoid scandal."

~St. Basil the Great

"But I'm here among you to prevent something far worse for you. While those who give scandal are guilty of the spiritual equivalent of murder, those who take scandal — who allow scandals to destroy their faith — are guilty of spiritual suicide."

  ~St. Francis de Sales

Pray

Dear Lord, There is scandal in the world--everywhere I look. There is sin in our homes, in our churches, in our social networks. Sin abounds, even among the people of God. Strengthen my faith today, Lord. Let me see that You are present, even when we are not perfect. Prevent me from committing spiritual suicide, from allowing my faults and the imperfections of the people of God to distract me from the perfection of your Son. God, please grant me grace, the grace not to get in the way of the abundant mercy You want to shower on me.

Act

Examine your conscience in light of the quotes above. Do you give scandal? Even little scandals: "harmless" gossip, judgments that are calumnous, a missed opportunity to share Christ with genuine encouragement? Takes those millstones from your neck. Apologize sincerely, if necessary. 

Find someone who is hurting, who is doubting, because of the scandalous behavior of others. Be kind and gentle towards her. Do a little suicide prevention.

Where the Grapes Grow Sweet

In this post, I mentioned that we brought a book back from California. The Grapes Grow Sweet is the story of a family bringing in California grapes at harvest time. Beautifully illustrated with rich, watercolor pictures, the book tells the story of Julian and Adrienne Rossi, two children growing up in the fourth generation on a Napa vineyard. The story is tenderly told and every time I read it aloud to my children, I'm drawn into the warmth of this family and the love and respect they have for the people who work with them. As I mentioned in this post, I'm particularly fascinated by organic and biodynamic farming. In this book, the ecology of the vineyard comes alive, showing the insects and other creatures among the grapevines. The pictures are incredibly detailed and with each reading so far, we've noticed something new. There are some extension resources for the book here that have delighted us in the past week.

My girls were so inspired by this book that we took off last week for an impromptu visit to some Virginia vineyards, hoping to see the harvest gondolas. We headed to Loudoun County vineyards first. I found that people in the two places we stopped weren't terribly responsive to the presence of children, despite their website assurances that they were family friendly.

The next week, we went apple picking in Front Royal and then, popped around the corner to Rappahanock Cellars, a vineyard recommended by Janine in the comments of that post. Rappahanock Cellars is a family-owned vineyard and winery run by the the Delmare family. Since there are twelve kids in that family, they didn't bat an eye when I arrived with six.

We had a wonderful time. We picnicked and ran around and breathed in mountain air scented with grapevine. We had an abbreviated tour (it's harvest season), but then we got to stand at the big picture windows and watch huge mounds of grapes be transported to the hopper for pressing. 

The book absolutely came to life! We plan to go back in October because I have hunch it's a particularly wonderful place when the leaves change color. (And because we joined the wine club and opted to pick up our selections;-).

For more about our Storybook Year, please visit  here. 

Jottings from Our Time with "A" along the Alphabet Path

~Apple Prints~

~Painting A~    

~Chalkboard  and Sandpaper~

   

~Wooden A~   

~ Sculpting A~

    Sculpted with lavender play-doh.

~An Apple Poem~ 

 

~Wool Fleece Angels~

    Tutorial here.

~Fleece A~

~The Annunciation~

Playset available from St. Luke's Brush.

 ~Apple Picking~

 Much more here.

~Apple Crisp~

Recipe here.

~Apple Pie

 

Recipe here.

Detailed lesson plans and lots of book suggestions here.

~A~ is for Apple (picking and pies)

First, there is apple picking.

 

 

And then,

~Apple Crisp~

Grain-free, recipe:

In a greased 8X8 pan, toss:

• 6 - 8 apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
• 1/2 c sugar (substitute  2 TBS maple syrup if you want sugar-free)
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1 T arrowroot powder
• 2 T almond flour
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp grated lemon rind

Toss all ingredients together well and put in greased 8" X 8" pan. 

Mix together in a medium bowl:

• 1 1/2 cups almond flour
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tbsp coconut oil or unsalted butter
• 1/3  cup maple syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 tsp sea salt

Crumble over the top of the apple mixture. Bake at 350* for about 45 minutes.

 and

~Apple Pie~

• 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter
• 2 1/2 pounds firm, tart apples  peeled, cored, and sliced 
• 1/2 cup sugar plus 1 tablespoon for sprinkling
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch

Melt 3 tablespoons of the butter in an iron skillet saute pan over medium heat. Add the apple wedges and saute until slightly softened, but holding their shape, just 3 to 4 minutes. Don't overcook. They're going to be baked. Add the 1/2 cup of sugar and stir to combine. Add the sugar and spices and stir.

In a bowl, combine the lemon juice and cornstarch. Stir  into the apple mixture and remove the pan from the heat. Let cool completely.

Use refrigerated pie crusts. They usually come two per pack. For the bottom crust, follow the package directions to put it in the pie pan. Fill with the cooled filling. Dot the top with the other 3 tablespoons of butter, cut into little pieces.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Roll out the other refrigerated crust and help your little learners cut the letter "A" with cookie cutters. Arrange on top and lightly brush with egg wash and sprinkle with about a teaspoon of sugar.  

Put the pie on a cookie sheet to catch any dripping and bubbling. Place on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 20 minutes.  Rotate the pie 180 degrees to move the front edge of the pie to the back of the oven. Bake until the top is golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes more. Watch carefuly throughout to ensure that the crust doesn't burn. Cover loosely with foil if it seems to be browning too quickly.

Remove the pie from the oven and let cool for 20 minutes before slicing and serving. If you slice and serve to soon, it will be runny.

~Happy Appling!~