Daybook just before February

 

Outside My Window

There is a blanket of snow everywhere. A quick check of the weather tells me that there may be more snow in the immediate future followed by lots of cold rain midweek. Not much good to say about cold rain...

 

I am Listening to

quiet

 

I am Wearing

Yoga pants and a sweathsirt. I slept in these. I do plan to dress for the day.

 

I am so Grateful for

~a safe trip home for Mike (only three hours) on a snowy night when many people spent up to ten hours in their cars. 

~a safe flight out early the next morning so that my sweet Mary Beth could surprise Patrick with a real life visit--meet his friends, see his school, take him some Valentine dots in person. My husband is a travel genius and we are blessed by his expertise.

~a warm gym on a bitter Saturday morning.

~making a quick exit from said gym before my two-year-old threw up. Getting outside was a huge blessing. to a lot of people, no doubt.

~a trip for Mary Beth and Mike to see Patrick in Florida

~black tea with mint and coconut milk

~long talks with Linda about all things theological

~Mary Chris' knitting lesson when every other plan for fun last week failed

~Katie's enthusiastic love of all things yarn

~a hot pink lighted Kindle case

~hours in bed on Sunday recovering and reading

~snow

~a new deacon at the mission

~bedtime talks with Mike

~a good night's sleep

~cashmere socks

~hair bows

~newly organized school baskets

~the Charlotte Mason organizer

~Latin DVDs

~a solid school plan for the term

~a good dentist (if I can just drum up the courage to call her)

-8

Mary Beth in the airport on the way home (note the sunburn--sign of fun in the sun)

I'm Pondering

“If a sudden jar can cause me to speak an impatient, unloving word, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
For a cup brimful of sweet water cannot spill even one drop of bitter water, however suddenly jolted.”
~ Amy Carmichael H/T Ann Voskamp 

I am Reading

One Thousand Gifts on Kindle

Catholic Controversies: Understanding Church Events and Teaching in History. I'm reading this one with Christian. He's a huge fan of National Geographic and the History Channel, but is driven crazy by occasional anti-Catholic. This book is very helpful in sorting fact from fiction. Edited by Stephen Gabriel, different topics are written by different authors, all experts in their fields who share their knowledge in this one comprehensive volume. All of the authors are well-respected writers, editors, historians, scientists, or theologians and they bring their strengths to the project, making it an exceptionally credible resource. The resulting collection is both impressive and exceedingly useful. Complex and commonly misunderstood doctrines and historical events of the Catholic Church including evolution, Galileo, the Crusades, the Inquisition, the Reformation, the role of women, natural law,  and contraception are addressed in solid, readable essays. I think this go-to guide is going to be ready at my fingertips as one teenager after another asks tough questions in this household over the next couple of decades.

 

I am Thinking

about how grateful I am for the sacrament of marriage. There's a lot of grace there.

 

I am Creating

endless knitting projects. In my head. Because really, I'm no at all sure I can sit still long enough to bring any of them to fruition.

  -10

Patrick's dorm

On my iPod

same old, same old. But I did install the Divine Office Mac app on my computer. Bliss. Really, it's amazing. I love it. It's clean and beautiful and I love that it's its own button on my toolbar and not dependent on browser. Love.

 

-12

St. Stephen's, where Paddy goes to school

Towards a Real Education

We cleaned out all the individual school baskets and got all caught up on CM Organizer. Ordered a few new things for children who have whipped through previously planned curriculum. Nicky and Katie have blasted through math this year. Kindle has been such a blessing to Mary Beth, who is still struggling with an eye injury from last spring. We're getting there, though. making steady progress.

Karoline loves the geography studies especially and she's becoming our resident map expert. She was teaching Sarah all the countries in South America last night. Too cute for words. "This is Bolivia, but you can call it Olivia if you want betuz that's what I called it when I was little and I didn't know better." Like last week?

 

Towards Rhythm and Beauty

Time to get back to the "put the computer away" rhythm. I've gotten sucked in to having it open all day and then I get sidetracked. I wish there were an iPod app for the CM Organizer. Then, I wouldn't need to be online with my laptop. It's too tedious to just acces the Organizer online for iPod--it's just not configured for that small screen. Perhaps a little self discipline is in order, yes? Anyway, I need to finish up here this morning and close all window but the Organizer. And focus.

 

We're having a Kind Conversation about

gosh, I don't know. I haven't been there in several days. Must check in today. 

-9

dorm room

To Live the Liturgy

 Candlemas is this week.

Today's the Feast of St. John Bosco.

 

I am Hoping and Praying

for Elizabeth deHority. She is constantly on my heart and in my prayers. She needs you now. Please, please pray with me.

 

Around the House

It appears that I'm going to have to do a clothing switch in the middle of winter. Sarah has suddenly decided to grow. She had been wearing last winter's clothing (the 6-12  months size), but all of a sudden, she needs something bigger. Down to the storage room today, to unearth the clothing Karoline wore the winter she was two. I think those might be too big. And then, I'll be stuck because a quick look around Target the other day let me know that bathing suits are already ready and available for purchase. Ironic, since I was there to look for snow pants.

-1

headquarters of US Soccer Men's U17 National Team, where team meetings happen

From the Kitchen

I'm inspired by Andrea's post. I tend to make dietary changes for me, but hesitate to make them for all of us. At least, I haven't really put my foot down in the kitchen in a long, long time. I remember when Paddy had surgery on his hand on his second birthday and we stopped at Dunkin Donuts on the way home. He didn't even know what a donut was. My current two-year-old would happily live on chocolate chips, unless of course, M & Ms were available. We've loosened my formerly militant dietary rules way too much. It's time to clean up around here.

 

One of My Favorite Things

Snow days. I'm learning to embrace cold rain days this winter. Not so much.

 

Sarah Annie this week

She's sporting a new haircut. More on that later.

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week

Need to schedule a visit to the dentist.

Lots of basketball

Senior night for Christian. How is that possible? I always cry at Senior Nights...This one will be particularly tough. I wish so much for this child and life knocks him around more than a little.

Stephen's birthday

Candlemas

Tomorrow begins our Small Steps Together study of Simplicity.

Picture thoughts:

  -11

after the match on Saturday

Paddy and Mary Beth after his match on Saturday

 
These pictures are from Mike's and Mary Beth's recent trip to visit Patrick at the U17 US Soccer Men's National Team Residency program in Bradenton Florida. They were taken on Mike's Blackberry.    

 

 

 

 

Winter Daybook

 

Outside My Window

It was 8 degrees outside when I got up this morning. Brrr.

 

I am Listening to

Karoline discussing plans for a Princess Bluebell Tea Party...

 

I am Wearing

Yoga pants, two sweatshirts, ski socks and slippers. Crazy cold.

 

I am so Grateful for

Good friends for my teenaged daughter.

 

I'm Pondering

See everything. Overlook a great deal. Correct a little ~Bl. Pope John XXIII 

 

I am Reading

One Thousand Gifts on Kindle

The Story of the Trapp Family Singers I actually read this one a couple of weeks ago. I read parts of the first few chapters aloud to Karoline, but she was totally frustrated. "Obviously, the person who wrote this book didn't pay very good attention to the movie. She got all the names wrong!" It's such a wonderful story of faith and family that I love to read it again and again.

That one got us on a little roll. We watched another movie that, while delightful, really deemphasizes the devoutness of the family in the screen version. My kids loved this movie--19 kids and yet another seafaring Dad! And then, I read the real story. It's a shame this book is not readily available. It's a wonderful read, well worth combing local libraries to find.

 

I am Thinking

About all your emails last week, following the first Stepping Together post. Your insights are valuable and they never fail to help me grow and to understand. God is amazing!

I am Creating

Karoline have done some early morning art surfing and resolved to get to these projects this week:

Town of Van Snow

Snowman Collage

Picasso's Rose Period Hearts

I'm finding Emily's posts on creativity really inspiring.

 

On my iPod

This new rosary app: Rosary Miracle Prayer App

 

Towards a Real Education

Random snippets:

I love the way the year is unfolding in harmony with the seasons: we should finish up the High Middle Ages and head into the Renaissance just in time for spring. Spring here tends to dissolve into nature and art and Shakespeare. This year, it will look like I planned it that way;-).

For as long as he has the time, Michael is taking two kids at a time downtown once a week to visit art galleries and museums. Katie and Nicky went last week. Once again, Nick's eyes filled with tears when it was time to head home. I don't think I'll ever tire of watching how much he loves to be in an art museum.

I talked education with several retired teachers and administrators at my father's birthday brunch yesterday. I was a little surprised by how open and supportive they were about homeschooling. Of course, it's entirely possible that they are just gracious and polite. Well, they were definitely gracious and polite, but they might just be good at pretending too. Still, it was very fun to talk kindergarten with someone who loves it as much as I do! When I have no kindergarteners left here at home, I wonder if I can persuade someone to send me theirs a few days a week, just so I can get my fix.

 

Towards Rhythm and Beauty

It appears that Karoline's new morning involves rising between 5 and 6 and having dozens of picture books read other before anyone else awakens. It's a lovely time.

Now to figure out when I will exercise and have my own quiet time...

 

We're having a Kind Conversation about

Getting healthy in 2011


To Live the Liturgy

I am so organized and ready for Candlemas. The link is to an old blog fair with posts on Candlemas. Lots of good reading there. I've been setting aside candles for several weeks now and I have a series of three posts all queued up and ready to go this week.

 

I am Hoping and Praying

for Elizabeth deHority. She is constantly on my heart and in my prayers. She needs you now. Please, please pray with me.

 

Around the House

The older my baby, the cleaner my house. I hope I never, ever forget this fact. I hate didactic admonitions all about how if you just get your act together, your house can look like Pottery Barn. The reality is that if I really am tuned into my baby and I really have my priorities straight, the house will be a little "in process" most of the time. And the rest of the time? It will be a mess.

But now, it's rarely a mess. And it's often quite clean. But I don't want to pat myself on the back and have any illusions that it's because I've at last mastered all those housekeeping details. The reality is that my kids are older. Period.

 

From the Kitchen

This week, Sarah has done my menu planning and I am so grateful!

 

One of My Favorite Things

Monastery Creamed Honey from the monks in Berryville. My stepmother offered it to me for tea on Saturday night. Then, I added it to my coffee yesterday.  Best cup of coffee ever. I'm not kidding.

I really want to get out to that monastery with the kids, soon.

 

Sarah Annie this week

She comes to me heavily laden, two small baskets in one hand, a third basket in the other, a blanket over her shoulders.

"You hold this?" she asks, handing me the first basket.

"You hold this?" she continues, with the second basket.

"And you hold this?" I take the third basket.

"You hold my blanket?" But of course.

She reaches both hand up, arms outstretched to me, as I shift her treasures in my hands. "You hold me, too?"

I'd like nothing better.

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week

Due to extreme carsicknesses on the way back from Charlottesville yesterday, today's car trip to Fredericksburg to visit Beatrix and Larkspur has been postponed. I'm definitely bummed. Everyone whose age is double digits will be at the March for Life today. We've had some extra teenagers here and there last weekend--now everyone is off to DC to make a statement and effect a change.

The rest off the week is up in the air -- or not. Depending on Paddy's schedule, we may or may not be taking a quick trip to Florida...

Picture thoughts:

 
     DSC_0258

 


 

 

 

Birthday Daybook

 

Outside My Window

Cold, cold, cold with a wintry mix in the forecast. Yay!

I am Listening to

Katie and Karoline playing in the bathtub.

I am Wearing

Pajamas, two pairs of socks, and sweatshirt with the hood up. No one else is cold. But I am. That thyroid thing.

I am so Grateful for

~Little girl with curls, all buckled in to go to the grocery store with Daddy. Two dolls buckled into the seats next to her. Double doll stroller in the trunk.
~Daddy who came in to get me before they set out on their errand, just because he wanted to share the cuteness with me.
~Just the thought of all the people in Costco who stopped to ask Karoline about the "babies" in her stroller.
~Laughing with Mike across the court at the entertaining second grade girls who played their first-ever basketball game this weekend. Laughing. So. Hard.
~Big brothers who can't decide whether to laugh or cry as the coach calls "Foss" in an increasingly exasperated tone throughout the game. They're seriously worried about the family's basketball reputation in this town.
~Winter from the top of a swing.
~Icy nature walks.
~Husband who suggests he make a big Chinese feast for dinner the night before my birthday and he makes enough for two nights, so now, we have dinner made and no pots and pans to clean tomorrow night.
~Hot baths with essential oils of eucalyptus and lavender. Herbal tea to sip in the tub. Warm within and without.
~A brand new doctor whom I really like and the hope that I will be feeling much better soon.
~Fondue night again this weekend with wonderful company and lots of laughter.
~Magic hairbrushes from England
~a Big Game to watch in bed on my birthday. War Eagle. (That was for you, Jan;-)

 

I'm Pondering

I learned long ago, not to pay attention to what I call, “Job’s friends.” (Those people who are free to give an opinion about your life and what you are doing wrong, and about not following all the “rules”,  when all along, God is at work in great ways.”) Sally Clarkson 

 

I am Reading

One Thousand Gifts on Kindle

Ordinary Work, Extraordinary Grace in hardback (but there is a Kindle version of that one, too).

 

I am Thinking

about this comment Aimee made on her Facebook page. This topic is very much on my mind lately and Aimee's comments really captured much of what I'm thinking. I'm going to leave it here for you to ponder. Do let me know what you think in the combox.

 When someone asks me what I wished I could do all over again during my college/early married years, it would be to really invest in learning the "domestic arts"...I spent years struggling and trying to learn things with babies under my feet :) I wish I had realized that my life would be my home and investing in the people in it and would take seriously that "job" and learn the skills involved!! Seriously! Any new job always has a big learning curve and it can take a professional years to really find their sweet spot in their job...I think the same is true when working at home. It's an investment of time and energy to become proficient in cooking, organizing, cleaning, managing, creating, decorating, serving, entertaining...but it's SO worth it and I have been blessed far beyond what I could have asked for or imagined. This life is a good and beautiful life. Didn't mean to turn this response into a mini-sermon....LOL!!!! Just wanted to encourage you to have fun serving your husband and your home now! :) Aimee Kollmansberger

 

I am Creating

I am going to learn to knit.

I am.

And I am so blessed to know that my teacher is both a gifted craftswoman and a beautiful friend. I am so looking forward to this.

 

On my iPod

Bob Books. I now seem to use my iPod for the Divine Office, trading off throughout the day with Karoline, who claims it for frequent visits with Bob.

 

Towards a Real Education

I'm on a happy picture book binge part with my four-year-old. Pure bliss. She loves stories as much and the way I love stories. It's very much a dream come true.

 

Towards Rhythm and Beauty

Candles. I'm thinking candles. As we move towards the time to pack Christmas away, I want to keep the candles. I've loved the light of this season, the way candles can light the rhythms, warm the transitions, bring a glow to the traditions of even ordinary days. More on that thought later, I think. Look for a small series of posts on candlelight very soon.

 

We're having a Kind Conversation about

Variations on classical education in high school.

 

To Live the Liturgy

It's a happy little fact that I was born on the first anniversary of Mike's baptism. That thought pleases me to no end...

 

I am Hoping and Praying

for Elizabeth deHority. She is constantly on my heart and in my prayers. She needs you now. Please, please pray with me.

 

Around the House

The tree came down today. I nearly cried. Poor Sarah Annie stood there as Mary Beth and I prepped boxes and cut bubble wrap. She knew what we were about. Her chin quivered and her eyes filled. "I love my Christmas tree," said she, over and over again. We explained that ballet begins again tomorrow and we really do need the space. No words could console. Daddy came along and swept her away on an adventure in the car. We hustled to get it all packed away while she was gone. As soon as she came back, she noted its absence and hurled dirty looks and plaintive wails at Michael, despite his best efforts to distract her with chili con queso and chips. Poor baby.

From the Kitchen

I've promised Mary Chris to get into a soup and salad habit with her. Well, actually, she invented this habit; I'm just trying to copy her.

One of My Favorite Things

Sunday Night Football. And Monday Night Football. Actually, I really just like football in general and football at night, even better. And I am going to miss it. Tomorrow night, though? Good football. War Eagle. (Again, for you, Jan. Smile and wave at the camera. I'll look for you.)

Sarah Annie this week

She's pretty much given up naps. This has me re-thinking our afternoons a bit, making a shift from baby mode to quiet afternoon little girl activities.

Oh, and Sarah Anne insists that we all live the Sound of Music. We've all been assigned a role and she insists we address each other by our "Sound of Music names." Bursting into song is to be expected. I'm living my favorite musical. How cool is that?

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week

Tomorrow's my birthday. And we begin ballet again, so I get to visit with dear friends again. There's that winter storm predicted for Tuesday and Wednesday. I've promised my kids that as soon as we have a real snow day we'll make homemade marshmallows for hot chocolate.

Picture thoughts:

 
    DSC_0169

 
 
comments are open.

 


 

 

First Daybook of the New Year

Outside My Window

It's damp and cold and getting dark. Lazy Sunday afternoon weather.

I am Listening to

Karoline. Always to Karoline. She's incredibly loud.

I am Wearing

Jeans, slippers and that same old, gray cashmere sweater (it survived being accidentally thrown in the wash--a little felted but not terrible).

I am so Grateful for

~email, Facebook, cell phones, and Skype; I do recognize how much easier it is to stay in touch than it was even a generation ago.

~safe travel

~sweet time together as one big family and sweet memories to warm my January

~a chance to rest and relax with my husband at home

~dinner with friends

~a reassuring conversation with Christian and Patrick when I started my inevitable, year-end self-doubting session

~Karoline and Sarah Anne and the perpetual good cheer and joyfulness of blond babies

~watching how those very little girls warm the twilight of Mike's parents' lives. Everyone should have little girls in the twilight.

 

I'm Pondering

My past, O Lord, to Your mercy;
my present, to Your love;
my future to Your providence.

– St. Padre Pio

 

I am Reading

One Thousand Gifts on Kindle

Ordinary Work, Extraordinary Grace in hardback (but there is a Kindle version of that one, too).

 

I am Thinking

Way too much. I am sad. There's no doubt about it. It was really hard to see Patrick leave today. We still don't know when we'll see him again. I've heard from other moms who understand, who empathize from the bottom of their hearts and share similar experiences. And I've heard from mothers who say it stings for a day or two and then they just move on, blithely going about whatever it is they do. They are almost unmoved by emotions that seem to nearly drown me. And then there are the mothers who tell me about the happy dances they do when their kids move out. 

I am thinking--wondering--what the difference is. Why the difference?
 

I am Creating

Virtual pages. This week will be about documenting our celebrations, so please bear with me as our family's Christmas bursts all over this space. Still--we have more to record and we're moving rathing slowly on that project. Life is happening faster than we can record. But Mary Beth is helping me and we are going to catch up this week.

On my iPod

Rich Mullins. Katie found him on an old iPod. I heard her singing along and needed a good dose for myself.

 

Towards a Real Education

We got word this weekend that Patrick's GPA ranked first among all the kids on the National Team. I distinctly remember the night he posted this status on his Facebook account:

Tomorrow is my first day of school. ever.

I didn't sleep all night. I tossed and turned and worried about whether he was at all prepared for a classroom, epsecially a prep school classroom so far away. Honestly, I'm still sort of astonished by how well he's done. Astonished. Grateful. And just a little proud.

We're doing good things here. Carry on.

 

Towards Rhythm and Beauty

Candles. I'm thinking candles. As we move towards the time to pack Christmas away, I want to keep the candles. I've loved the light of this season, the way candles can light the rhythms, warm the transitions, bring a glow to the traditions of even ordinary days. More on that thought later, I think.

 

We're having a Kind Conversation about

Our "words" for 2011

Do you have a word yet? Comments are open. Do share!

 

To Live the Liturgy

I'm looking forward to our January 6th celebration of Epiphany. It always a little disconcerting to celebrate it on a Sunday and then celebrate it again later, but I do like that day set apart, a ways away from Christmas Day. I wrap a book for each of my children in gold paper--makes for "wise men" in the new year.

 

I am Hoping and Praying

for blessings yet to be imagined in the new year. God doesn't really need my wishlist. He usually outdoes anything I can dream up.

 

Around the House

My plan is to verrrrrryyy slowly put away the Christmas decorations. This was the Christmas of the deleted Christmas card mailing list. I very carefully reconstructed that list. I keyed it all into a new template and I kept careful track of cards that came in, updating and adding as I went. I'm very pleased with the orderly list that awaits me next year. I'd like to bring that order to everything we store. Slow and thoughtful will be my friends.

 

From the Kitchen

Michael is home. I am pretty sure that officially relieves me of grocery shopping duties. I'm looking forward to creating new menus and long, detailed grocery lists.

One of My Favorite Things

When the three big boys (not all at once) come flying into my bedroom and plop themselves on the bed, usually while I'm trying to put Sarah to sleep. I've given up scolding for it. I realized in August how much I miss it when it's not there. So now, I sort of hope one of them at least will fly into our presence every night.

Sarah Annie this week

I have a hunch this little girl is going to absolutely fall apart when Mike leaves for work tomorrow. Me, too.

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week

Back to the books. In a big way. The CM Organizer has been dusted off and updated. The book baskets are tidy and uncluttered. We're ready to rock and roll. This week will be the first meeting of the new girls' club at our mission church. Lots of basketball and some soccer.

Picture thoughts:

DSC_0155
  

 
 
comments are open. a new year; time to be a little brave...

 


Daybook on this Beautiful Feast

Outside My Window

It is still dark, windy and blustery cold. I'm sitting on the couch in the living room, by the light of the Christmas tree. It's warm. And comfortable. I mention this because we've had no heat on this floor this season. Until yesterday, when the heat man came at last. He was a very nice man (exceedingly nice) and he made it all well again. It's lovely to be warm.

I am Listening to

the wind blow and the wreaths bang against the windows.

 

I am Wearing

flannel pajamas and Elizabeth deHority socks. Please pray for her. To be unable to knit truly deprives her of one of the last comforts she has. She will be annointed today. Would you carry her with you to Mass as well? (And I'll tell you what, in a house without heat, those socks totally rock!)

 

I am so Grateful for

Patient friends who never stop praying.

 

I'm Pondering

Still this:

"When I look into the future, I am frightened,
but why plunge into the future?
Only the present moment is precious to me,
As the future may never enter my soul at all.

It is no longer in my power,
To change, correct or add to the past;
For neither sages nor prophets could do that.
And so, what the past has embraced I must entrust to God.

O present moment, you belong to me, whole and entire.
I desire to use you as best I can.
And although I am weak and small,
You grant me the grace of your omnipotence.

And so, trusting in Your mercy,
I walk through life like a little child,
Offering You each day this heart
Burning with love for Your greater glory." ~ From the Diary of St. Faustina (H/T Ruthie)

I am Reading

The Light of the World. On my Mike's Kindle. May we pause a moment to marvel at the Kindle? I got it for him for his birthday. Amazing. When he leaves for work, children line up to beg to use it. My child who has struggled to read all his life is sure it will solve his problems. Pretty strong words. He can't quite articulate it but the e-ink is so much easier on his eyes that he says the tracking struggles all but disappear. You can be sure there is one in his future. I was particularly tickled because The Light of the World was unavailable in print at Amazon for three weeks when I wanted to order it. But I had it in three seconds on Kindle. Do I miss holding a book and turning pages? So far, surprisingly, I don't. The ease of reading is just amazing. Actually, instead of making me pine for real book feel and smell, what the Kindle is making me do is wish my computer were so easy to read. I'm much more aware of how hard my laptop is on my eyes after I've spent time reading the Kindle. PDFs on the Kindle are so much better than PDFs on the laptop.  And this research has really borne itself out: Kindle before bed, not computer glare. I got Mike this lighted book cover, because a book light is necessary at night. I'm kind of glad the booklight is necessary. I'd hate to see hiding under the covers with a good book and a flashlight fade into antiquity.

 

I am Thinking

Oh, my goodness, am I ever thinking! We still haven't resolved this potential move to California. Any minute. But dear me, have we been thinking. And praying. And prioritizing. And planning. And praying some more. And I might have become very tired and cranky in the process. I am reminded that we are clay in the Potter's hands. As we get older, our clay becomes a bit more difficult to shape and mold, I think. He has to work it a bit more forceably. It sort of hurts.

 

I am Creating

A Christmas letter to go with the darling cards Mary Beth and Michael collaborated with me to create. I keep procrastinating on the letter--can't really write it until I know if we're moving, right? And Mary Beth and I made two really pretty rosaries yesterday. Really pretty. We've all decided that one of them is the absolute prettiest yet.

No candy or cookies coming from my kitchen just yet. I'm holding off on all kitchen creations until the week before Christmas. Patrick will be home then. I don't want him to miss the making and baking because I know he loves to do it. Plus, I want my house to smell like Christmas cookies and I want my little ones to have the experience of creating beautiful baked goods, but I truly cannot handle flour without itching something fierce and Mary Beth seems to be developing the same allergy. With Patrick home to help, they can have all the fun and I can just supervise from afar.

 

On my iPod

People Look East. Perhaps my very favorite hymn of all--I love this song. I will freely admit that part of the reason I love this song is that it gives me license to clean and decorate. Make your house fair as you are able, trim the hearth and set the table. It's a homemaking song.  This version is a different, kind of bluegrass, I think. I do like it.

 

Towards a Real Education

This year, we aren't doing the Jan Brett unit or the Tomie de Paola unit or the Anne of Green Gables unit or the Christmas Around the World unit. We're doing business as usual with our math and our writing and then we're just reading books from the baskets. Of course, all of the books in the aformentioned units are in the baskets. But with the move thing ever at the forefront and with some other real life limitations, just the facts plus a sprinkling of good books is a good fit. Perhaps next week or so, we will pull an activity or two from any of those places. We'll see.

 

Towards Rhythm and Beauty

The winter rhythm is a much quieter one, thank God.  It's nice not to drive to McLean nearly every day. But I do miss my Starbucks wi-fi time and it's lack is really showing up here. I have no blogging time written into the winter rhythm. Without planning for it intentionally, it's just not happening.

Funny thing, after thoroughly investigating what driving to soccer and ballet would look like if we move to California, the traffic and commute  in the Washington DC suburbs look like an afternoon in the park. (Hmm, maybe because they often result in an afternoon in the park.)

We're having a Kind Conversation about

Advent. What a lot of good ideas! Did you know that the Pope's advent candles are red? I find this fact fascinating. So often, we look to our trusted and excellent resources for living the liturgical year in our homes (places like Catholic Culture and Domestic Church) and we think that what is shared there is the only right way to do something. Pink and purple candles--it's what done and what must be done.  If you can't find pink and purple, tie ribbons on white. I've always thought that was the only way to do it. The interesting thing to me is that these are not liturgical traditions, they are domestic traditions. Domestic traditions by their very nature reflect the culture. And they are open to intepretations of the culture over time. The Pope has red candles. Can you get more authentically Catholic than the Pope?

 

To Live the Liturgy

We are marking our hours with prayer and light. In the morning, we light the Advent spiral and read our Jesse Tree devotional, hang an ornament and say a prayer. At noon, it's Midday Prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours. At dinner, time, the Advent Wreath and our candle song. At bedtime, the St. Andrew Christmas Prayer and the Immaculate conception candle and prayer. The time of each devotion is very short, but I truly love this rhythm. It works for us and I'm already trying to think of ways to hold the same rhythm after Christmas.

Recently, I saw a link to this post and a reference to the "crafty, busy advent." And I suppose it would be so if I were doing all those things during these three weeks. The reality is that I have done all those things. Over the course of 23 years of mothering chidren during Advent. Now, I have a plethora of things from which to choose and a small, but meaningful number of activities that are dear, every year traditions. It's actually a "creative, purposeful, intentional Advent." I only wish I could make the rest of the year so peaceful.

 

I am Hoping and Praying

For Michael, who finishes his college career this week. Words evade me. I'm sure they won't for long, but for now, I'm just speechless. My heart's pretty much spilling over.

For Patrick, who leaves for Brazil on Saturday for the Future Champions Tourney. Safe travels, dear one. And remember, the game is supposed to be fun. Play hard, pray harder. And have fun.

For my husband, as he makes some big decisions.

 

Around the House

Prettiest Christmas decorating job ever.

I wish though, that I had a record of the text messages Michael was sending on the day we decorated. Every time something went wrong, he'd whip out his phone. I'm sure there were things like:

We just broke the third string of lights, fresh out of the box.

I can't believe this crazy woman is sending me back to Home Depot yet again. I've been there four times today.

My mom just let fly a couple dozen cookies and string of expletives as she opened a brand new box of Peppermint Joe-Joes all over the kitchen floor.

I'm pretty sure everyone has now had a temper tantrum today. Fa-la-la-la-la. La-la-la-la.

But it sure does look pretty now.

 

From the Kitchen 

Not soy. I am here to tell you it's true: just half a cup of soymilk a day can totally mess up your thyroid. So, now dairy milk is out; soy milk is out. Coconut creamer tastes like soap to me. I'm on the verge of giving up coffee because I just can't drink it black.

 

One of My Favorite Things

A day of surprises:

  • An impromptu St. Nicholas shopping date with my husband that included lunch together. Just us.
  • A birthday dinner for Granddad's 87th during which we surprised him with a face-to-face conversation with Patrick via Skype.
  • The surprise appearance of my two favorite college students who came out to celebrate with us despite it being crunch time at school.

Sarah Annie this week

This is the most Daddy's Girl child I have ever encountered. She talks about him all day long. She counts the hours until he comes home. She squeals when she hears the door open. She sings his name and he sings hers right back. I need to get that on video. Priceless.

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week

Mass today. I love this feast; this date will always be dear to my heart. I want to get down to the Shrine, the way we have in the past, but I don't think I can do that and be back in time to pick up Gracie at school. So, I think we'll wait for her and then go locally late this afternoon.

A very fun party planned at Mary Beth's ballet studio on Saturday. Eighteen little girls from our homeschool dance class will be there. Mary Beth will dance and we'll have crafting and cookie decorating and face painting and tiara bejewelling. Pretty much little girl heaven. They are so excited!

Picture thoughts:

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