Gathering My Thoughts

I find myself:

::noticing God's glory

Northern Virginia is absolutely breathtaking in the springtime. Witihin a matter of hours the blooms change, the leaves look greener. I hardly want to go inside for fear of missing something.

::listening to 

Sarah slurping tea.

::clothing myself in 

Cotton.

::talking with my children about these books

The Omnivore's Dilemma: The Secret Behind What You Eat, Young Reader's Edition. 

::thinking and thinking

About losses and crosses and hope and determination and strength of character.

::pondering prayerfully

Every time there are losses there are choices to be made. You choose to live your losses as passages to anger, blame, hatred, depression and resentment, or you choose to let these losses be passages to something new, something wider, and deeper. (Henri Nouwen)

::carefully cultivating rhythm

The girls and I spent the last weekend at the first dance competition of the season. Here's a major point to consider about dance competitions: they happen inside, rain or shine, dark or light. This differentiates them from soccer tournaments. Soccer tournaments--like this dance competition--can begin very early. It's not at all unusual for me to leave the house with sleepy children in the dark to drive to soccer. But they don't play until it's light outside. Big difference. Bigger difference: rare is the soccer game played late into the night. Even on fields with lights, we're usually finished before 10:00. Not so with dance competitions. Soccer tournaments are outside. True, that means that we've played soccer in wind and snow and sleet and lots of rain. However, we play under the wide open sky and noise dissipates mostly into fresh air. Dance competitions? Inside. Darkened auditorium. Relentless noise of music and cheering. For fourteen hours at a time. I was so tired last night, but it was still so hard to sleep. Today, rhythm is all about re-setting the girls. Fresh air is the antidote, I think.

::creating by hand

I have 7 1/2 rows of the cuff to purl today and Katie's sweater will be finished.

::learning lessons in

essential oils. I'm immersing myself in a unit study;-). I broke out my trusty {old} essential oil book and read some dated information and then, I looked around and saw that the world of essential oils has exploded while I've been doing the same old thing for twenty years. So I'm learning lessons.

::encouraging learning 

All about being outside this week. Break out the nature journals, the colored pencils, the bug zoo, the butterfly net. 

::begging prayers

For a child of mine who needs big infusions of grace. Please pray with me?

For my friend Barbara's new grandson, Isaac. (So far, both our homeschooling-friends-grown-up who have had babies have named them Isaac.)  He was born a week ago, by emergency c-section, six weeks early. He and his mom are doing fine, but your prayers for recovery and growth and NICU grace are very much appreciated.

And for Rick Warren, his son, and his family.

::keeping house

See above for description of dance competition. Know the boys were here at home. 'Nuff said.

::crafting in the kitchen 

We crafted in the kitchen and took it on the road. In the Whole Food Kitchen Workshop, Heather shared a lovely basket for road trips. She packs glass containers with healthy treats. I started to think through that strategy and recognized quickly that carrying glass containers for five or six kids would be impossible (both in terms of a container and mom strength). I found these "healthier plastic" lunchboxes and we had some big fun considering them as palettes for food art. They held up very well in their first road test. 

::loving the moments

when I get home and I know I've been missed and he's planned a late date of wine and cheese just for us.

::giving thanks 

for hope.

living the liturgy

We're focusing on Divine Mercy.

Easter is a season. My intention is to live it as such. Throw open the windows; let light flood our lives. He is risen! And we, too, can run and leap and shout for joy:-). So let's get after that...

::planning for the week ahead

Lots of bluebells this week. The weekend brings State Cup for Stephen and a game for Paddy in Charlottesville and a game for Nicky in way far Maryland and more dance and plenty of fresh air and sunshine.

Instagram recap:

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

John 21:1-19

At that time, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias.

He revealed himself in this way.

Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus,

Nathanael from Cana in Galilee,

Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples.

Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”

They said to him, “We also will come with you.”

So they went out and got into the boat,

but that night they caught nothing.

When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore;

but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?”

They answered him, “No.”

So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat

and you will find something.”

So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in

because of the number of fish.

So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.”

When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord,

he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad,

and jumped into the sea.

The other disciples came in the boat,

for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards,

dragging the net with the fish.

When they climbed out on shore,

they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread.

Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.”

So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore

full of one hundred fifty-three large fish.

Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.

Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.”

And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?”

because they realized it was the Lord.

Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them,

and in like manner the fish.

This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples

after being raised from the dead.

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,

“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”

Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

He then said to Simon Peter a second time,

“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.”

Jesus said to him the third time,

“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was distressed that Jesus had said to him a third time,

“Do you love me?” and he said to him,

“Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger,

you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted;

but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands,

and someone else will dress you

and lead you where you do not want to go.”

He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God.

And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”

~*~*~

Think 

“Did the Lord’s flock actually follow him in tribulations and persecutions and hunger, sickness and trial and all the rest, and thereby receive eternal life, from the Lord?

What a great shame, then, that while the saints actually followed in the footsteps of the Lord, we, today’s servants of God, expect glory and honor simply because we can recite what they did.”

~St. Francis of Assisi

Pray

Lord, you call me to feed your sheep. Though I deny you as Peter did and though I miss opportunity after opportunity to be your hands and feet, you keep calling. Help me hear you and then, please help me hasten to obey.

Act

Feed the sheep. In your home, in your neighborhood, in your workplace. Where are the sheep He calls you to feed? Go there! Do that!

*

How can we pray for you this week?

Blogiversary Bluebell Bouquet

My little corner of the Internet began here seven years ago in early April. I was so sick with a new pregnancy that I rested my head on the desk while clicking through to see the magic Melissa Wiley had brought to life in the blog she designed for me.  I had doubts. Big doubts. I couldn’t imagine finding something to write several days a week.  I couldn’t imagine publishing in a way that made me vulnerable to the vast worldwide web.  I couldn’t imagine putting my heart out there. But I also couldn’t imagine writing any other way. I don’t know how to write any other way. Lissa was all encouragement. I gave it a chance.

Seven years later, I’m so grateful. Blogging has taught me lots of things. Many of those lessons, sadly, were very difficult ones. And all too often, I think about clicking it all closed.

More often, though, I’m very grateful for this space. I’m grateful for a medium that allows me to express myself. I’m grateful for a community that reads and encourages and prays and celebrates with me. And I’m very grateful that my memories are all cataloged here. I am able to reminisce. My children are able to see what was and also to hear the intention in my voice. It’s never perfect. And the vision never comes to life (or to the blog) exactly as I saw it, but they will always know where my heart has been. And I’m glad for that gift.

I’m also grateful for the readers who tell me this space blesses them. What a privilege to be able to bless!

Someone asked the other day about bluebell posts from all our early bluebell days. I can’t go back that far. Half our bluebell days—the first half—were before the blog. They are captured in random columns and mixed up snapshots in cardboard boxes in the basement. Bums me out. But the second half of those days? They are here. And we have just had a lovely morning revisiting them. Mary Beth gathered the memories into a bouquet for you.

Happy Friday! Happy Spring! Thanks for hanging out with me all these years. I love you to the moon and back.

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needle & thREAD

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These days, I'm "sewing" dance costumes. I use the term loosely, because really, I'm rigging alterations and hoping there are no wardrobe malfunctions. Karoline has exploded into reading the Junie B. Jones books. She requires someone to sit next to her and help quite a bit still, so that's what I've got to show for my reading this week. Because of Junie B. and her journal, Karoline wants to start a journal of her own. I've promised her we'll make a cover for a composition book either today or tomorrow (something like mine). And I promise you I'll take pictures along the way so you have a  tutorial.

What are you sewing and reading this week? I really do want to hear all about it!

Make sure the link you submit is to the URL of your blog post or your specific Flickr photo and not your main blog URL or Flickr Photostream. Please be sure and link to your current needle and thREAD post below in the comments, and not a needle and thREAD post from a previous week. If you don't have a blog, please post a photo to the needle & thREAD group at Flickr. 

       Include a link back to this post in your blog post or on your flickr photo page so that others who may want to join the needle and thREAD fun can find us! Feel free to grab a button here (in one of several colors) so that you can use the button to link.

The Gentle Hand of God

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Early this year, I decided that it is a year for renewal. Maybe I didn't decide, exactly. It was either renew or curl up in a ball and pull the covers over my head. Renew it was.

I think I had this vision of peaceful, serene days of tea sipping, while reading my Bible outdoors in warm breeze. Instead, I've been hurtling myself out of bed at 5:15 and stepping into the cold to get to the gym. (Okay, so that's only Wednesday mornings. The rest aren't so early. And this Wednesday, I didn't even go. But still.) Renewal is work, I'm learning. 

Yesterday morning, after a night that consisted of only four hours sleep, I heard the faint chime of bluebells. Still a little early, I thought. Maybe later in the week. A curious thing happened. My husband asked me three times before 7:00 AM if I planned to go to Bull Run. It's curious, I think, because Mike hasn't been to the bluebells in twelve years. It's my favorite place, my favorite time of year. But he doesn't go. The pollen makes him itch something fierce. He's not a big fan of dirt. And there is this thing called work. He spends glorious spring days in an office without windows. Still, he kept persisting in asking me if I was going. Perhaps he thought I needed a Mother Nature Nurture Day?

We went. I called my friend Linda on the way and she met us there. There was much splashing and squealing. There was a funeral for a dead fish and the discovery of a very large dead bird. A little girl who last year rode in an Ergo to hike in to our spot decided that this was her year to climb a tree. Little blonde girls who once got so muddy that they ended up stripped naked in the creek to rinse before going home are now taller than I am. Old tree stumps once used as benches have rotted too much to bear weight. New trees have fallen. Everything has changed. 

And yet.

It is still the place of peace. Still the spot where I know I can go to feel the gentle hand of God touch us all as surely as the afternoon sun and the spring breeze tenderly kiss our faces.

Renewal. It's happening.