Before the Big Snow
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I find myself:
::noticing God's glory
Oh, my goodness! There is the scent of snow in the air. Bring it!
::listening to
girls play. Boys build with Legos. This dishwasher swishing. The dryer turning. Life.
::clothing myself in
Boyfriend jeans, a turtleneck, heavy cardigan. Changing things up, friends--turtleneck instead of a long sleeved T-shirt.
::talking with my children about these books
Those lovely snow books. And a favorite for this week, too
::thinking and thinking
About burn out and recovery. Still. I'm writing and writing and writing, in the wee hours of the day, early before the children awaken. There will be enough for a book by the time I am finished--four weeks of "Quiet Time" prompts, four tutorials to keep creative hands busy, twelve {long} essays with lots of thoughts and practical ways to move along to the path of restoration and refreshment. And Joy is making all of it utterly beautiful. We are making great progress!
::pondering prayerfully
“There are three things you can do when life sends a wave at you. You can run from it, but then it's going to catch up and knock you down. You can also fall back on your ego and try to stand your ground, but then it's still going to clobber you. Or you can use it as an oppotunity to go deep, and transform yourself to match the circumstances. And that's how you get through the wave." -from the Instagram feed of Humans of New York
Amazing book!
::carefully cultivating rhythm
Snow days have a rhythm all their own. Our winter appears to have taken on the rhythm of a snow day. Fancy that.
Hah! I wrote that two weeks ago. Or was it three? We are due for a doozy. Big, big snow coming soon!
::creating by hand
Lots of baby things to make today. Lots and lots and lots.
Yesterday, I played with a little hand-lettering. I kind of like it.
::learning lessons in
Baby things. Not much has changed in five years. There are no old-fashioned rockers in Babies R Us anymore. And absolutely no wooden high chairs. Ergos are available right there in the store. I remember having to order mine online. But not much else has changed. There's a new crop of little ones to click the scanner for the registry, though. Way too much fun!
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::encouraging learning
My little Sarah is nearly reading on her own. And there, my friends, ends an era of reading to children who can't read and snuggling with them while they learn to love all the treasure held between the covers of a book. And, along the way, they learned to read, too. Loved. Every. Minute. Of. It.
Loved it so, so much.
::clicking around
Nothing to share here. I haven't been clicking. Five minutes of Facebook a day, Monday-Friday, if I get to it. Up to ten minutes of Instagram. A quick scan of mail to see if I need to answer something. And nothing else. Nothing.
That means I have this little inbox problem:
Those are unread messages. Need to work on that problem.
::begging prayers
for Shawn and for Elizabeth DeHority and for all the people who love them. Cancer is a hideous, horrible disease and watching it devour someone you love is incredibly painful.
for all the intentions of our prayer community.
For college students, especially the ones who are lonely and feel forgotten.
::keeping house
It's supposed to snow tonight and all day tomorrow. That means I'm going to clean like a crazy person today. I love to be snowed in. I hate to be snowed in a mess. A clean, snug house that smells of eucalyptus and wild orange--that's the way to begin a snowed in adventure.
::crafting in the kitchen
Snow food: roasted chicken, chicken and vegetable soup, homemade granola, hot chocolate, and some Valentine cupcakes.
::loving the moments
Talking to Mary Beth about Powersheets.
::giving thanks
For the boy I fell head-over-heels in love with on Valentine's Eve, 1982.
Now, he makes clover bouquets for our ninth baby on the sidelines of soccer fields.
He's a keeper.
living the liturgy
Last Sunday, four children came to visit us. They hung out here at our house while their little brother made his entry to the world. We played. And played. And played. And we made some birthday cupcakes, too. And at 10:00 Sunday morning we all went off to Mass. We sat in the front row. We prayed for Mommy and Daddy and Baby J.
And then, when we got home, we heard some glorious news. Baby J was born while we were so earnestly praying. Isn't that so fun?
::planning for the week ahead
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!
And then let it stop. My sweet husband is in Miami. Doubtless, he won't get in Thursday night as planned. As it happens, he's made reservations for Saturday night, anyway. So, as long as he gets in Saturday morning, works for me;-)!
Back By Popular Demand: Valentine Dots!
/- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees
- Unwrap all the Hershey Kisses
- Place one Kiss on one pretzel (I used wagon wheel pretzels)
- Heat the Kisses for 5-10 minutes (the white ones melt more quickly). You just want them shiny and a little soft.
- Press the M & Ms into the Kisses.DON'T MOVE THEM OR TOUCH THEM!
- I refrigerated them until they were hard.
These are beautiful and so little kid friendly! (Matching Dot Dress not included;-)
Salt and Light and now I want popcorn in front of the fireplace.
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We are called to be salt and light. What does that look like? Are we the single flame of a candle at dawn or the roaring fire in a fireplace on a snowy afternoon? Or both? First one, then the other, depending on need and our own resources and energy. Are we deep, rich Hawaiian Alean sea salt rubbed on a roast or are we fun, pink Himalayan salt sprinkled on honeyed popcorn? Are we ordinary table salt, healing a sore throat?
It depends on time and place.
All we know is that every day we are called.
Gospel
Matthew 5:13-16
Jesus said to his disciples:
“You are the salt of the earth.
But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?
It is no longer good for anything
but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
You are the light of the world.
A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket;
it is set on a lampstand,
where it gives light to all in the house.
Just so, your light must shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your heavenly Father.”
Think
Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you.
~Mother Teresa
Pray
Dear Jesus,
You tell me that I am salt of the earth and light of the world. It sounds so huge! And then--I am overwhelmed. Help me to see that I am called to be salt and light every day, even in the small, dark spaces of my own home. Let your light so shine in me right here today that every person who is near can't miss its warm glow.
Act
Sometimes it's just a smile, a hug, an encouraging text with the promise to pray. One small flame casts a warm glow. Even one crystal of salt has flavor. Do the small things. Do them with love and faithfulness. Do them all day long.
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 week, share Sunday's scripture 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.}
How can I pray for you this week?
