I spent the day in bed today because my body was exhausted. The last few weeks have strung together an amazing fullness of life, to include working on a big project, caring for my son's broken nose, and mentoring my teen through a difficult time. Under normal circumstances, my routine acts as the glue that holds me together. Daily I strive to pray well, eat well, rest well, take my vitamins, the whole routine. My routine is a form of discipline and I do see it as my responsibility to make sure that I don't get too depleted, that I protect my time, and that I care for myself in the midst of family life. Most of the time, staying on top of my care daily is enough. Most of the time.
After several weeks of unusual and purposeful action on my part, well fueled by the Holy Spirit (Thank You!), my body was bound to meet it's natural point of depletion. I was flying through this time with a physical energy that was not my norm, and I knew it. When days turned into weeks and I was still going strong, I thought I got away with something! Then last night, my husband returned from being out of town, took the children to their practices, and left me alone at home. Oh, how rare it is for me to be home alone! My mind naturally went to my ever-growing to-do list and the hole I felt dug into from the past wild weeks. My body, however, had different plans. I rested on the couch and watched the World Series until my family returned then I went to bed. Very unusual.
Today I was blessed with a rare day of no medical appointments, no outside lessons, no outside classes, no outside commitments. My normal Friday routine is filled with home-based work and the to-do list. I bucked my own system and stayed in bed. My children assured me that they would hold down the fort, and they did. They even went above and beyond the call of duty by making me breakfast in bed (scrambled eggs, home-made sausage, toast, and honey crisp apple slices,) lunch in bed (chicken salad with capers and sun-dried tomatoes sandwich and orange slices,) and hauling drinking water to me like I was a wilted plant. They kept the house quiet while I napped, twice. I prayed and read and the day flew by like a luscious dream.
By five o'clock, I felt so much better. I felt like my body was finally "caught up" with my positive thoughts and feelings. I felt so good that the children and I made a nice dinner for my husband, enjoyed it with him, then sent HIM to bed. I folded clothes while watching a movie with the children and now I'm off for a walk. I'm optimistic that this day was well spent, not only in energy gained, but in problems avoided. Tomorrow will be here soon and I'll need to get back to my routine. I'll keep this gift of a day in bed in mind for the future, and I'll pray that my mothering friends and family will find themselves with the opportunity to accept the gift as well.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Sunday, September 23, 2007
After Miscarriage
Three months ago I suffered a miscarriage for the first time. I became aware of my pregnancy at 5 weeks and aware of our loss at 14 weeks, which gave our family 9 weeks of earthly togetherness with baby Catherine. These weeks looked much like the first weeks of our other four pregnancies. They were filled with surprise and joy, nausea and fatigue, re-grouping and anticipation. Abruptly after her loss, my family and I were plunged into a surreal time and place of bittersweet mystery.
The main new lesson that I have learned is that I am still, and always will be, Catherine's mother, but at first I was dumbfounded. I didn't know how to continue in my role as mother for her. I no longer needed to eat, drink, and rest for her. I didn't need to see my midwife for her. I didn't need to plan and prepare for her coming. All I could do was pray.
Much to my surprise, relief, and joy, I am learning how to be the mother of a saint. In many ways, what I do now is what I did with my children on earth. Our relationship is growing over time through conversation and prayer. I find myself talking up to heaven to her where in the past I would talk to the baby in my growing belly. I have dreams about her as I had dreams about her siblings. She is included in family conversation yet instead of talking about our anticipation of her being with us on earth, we talk about striving to join her in heaven. We ask for her intercession and through this and more, our relationship and unity grows.
My desire to hold Catherine in my arms is beyond description. I still cry for all that was lost. Yet I cannot deny all that has been gained for me, for our family, and for Catherine. I have gained the joy of being the mother of a saint. Our family has gained another member to help lead us to heaven. Catherine has life, full and complete, by our intent to baptize her, through Christ in heaven.
Lord, I thank you for blessing me with children and the promise of eternal life. Please bless those who have suffered loss through miscarriage, especially those who do not receive the fullness of consolation found in the Catholic faith. I ask this through the intercession of our little Catherine. Amen.
The main new lesson that I have learned is that I am still, and always will be, Catherine's mother, but at first I was dumbfounded. I didn't know how to continue in my role as mother for her. I no longer needed to eat, drink, and rest for her. I didn't need to see my midwife for her. I didn't need to plan and prepare for her coming. All I could do was pray.
Much to my surprise, relief, and joy, I am learning how to be the mother of a saint. In many ways, what I do now is what I did with my children on earth. Our relationship is growing over time through conversation and prayer. I find myself talking up to heaven to her where in the past I would talk to the baby in my growing belly. I have dreams about her as I had dreams about her siblings. She is included in family conversation yet instead of talking about our anticipation of her being with us on earth, we talk about striving to join her in heaven. We ask for her intercession and through this and more, our relationship and unity grows.
My desire to hold Catherine in my arms is beyond description. I still cry for all that was lost. Yet I cannot deny all that has been gained for me, for our family, and for Catherine. I have gained the joy of being the mother of a saint. Our family has gained another member to help lead us to heaven. Catherine has life, full and complete, by our intent to baptize her, through Christ in heaven.
Have you not read ' I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?' He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
Matthew 22:31-32
Lord, I thank you for blessing me with children and the promise of eternal life. Please bless those who have suffered loss through miscarriage, especially those who do not receive the fullness of consolation found in the Catholic faith. I ask this through the intercession of our little Catherine. Amen.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Craft Ease
I try not to let my craft-impaired self deny my children the opportunity to do crafts. I don't always succeed. When I do, though, the children and I feel great after our craft time is complete. For me, a craft must:
Need little to no adult preparation.
Involve the children actively from start to finish.
Use inexpensive and readily available material.
Be easy to individualize.
Have a satisfying process and product.
Be quick and easy to do and clean up.
Today we did some simple paper weaving . We also did this complete the picture craft with pictures of wildlife.
Need little to no adult preparation.
Involve the children actively from start to finish.
Use inexpensive and readily available material.
Be easy to individualize.
Have a satisfying process and product.
Be quick and easy to do and clean up.
Today we did some simple paper weaving . We also did this complete the picture craft with pictures of wildlife.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Vacation Tips
One of the great perks of knowing how to be together as a family is that when you are REALLY together, I mean, stuck in a teeny tiny van together for a six hour drive and a teeny tiny room upon arrival, you already know some ways of getting along that are firmly planted. You also have no grand illusions of how easy and relaxing this will all be.
Tip 1: Plan but don't over plan.
Often one parent is the primo planner while the other is the, um, less than primo planner. What the primo planner may not know is that the under-planner may be onto something. Over-planning not only expends a ton of energy before a trip, but it can set expectations too high and thwart flexibility and spontaneity upon arrival. The best way to not over plan is to focus less on planning a tight schedule, and plan based on family priorities.
Tip 2: Identify family priorities.
We had a brief meeting a few days before our trip and talked about what we liked about past vacations and what we didn't like. We listed everything that anyone liked. Then we talked about what "vacation" means to each of us. Some of us love lots of activity, some of us like to sleep in, some of us like an orderly room, some like to eat great Italian food (that's me!) Don't forget to fill in what your littles will like to do...sleep, play undisturbed, not be dragged to too many activities, etc. From this list we chose our favorite activities to be placed on the calendar later.
Tip 3: Staying within a budget.
We talked about costs honestly before the trip and about how much we would like to spend. We got creative and found online coupons for some amusements and purchased a 2007 Entertainment book on sale cheap at Entertainment.com but you can also get them at Ebay - coupons good through Nov. 1 2007. We decided that somethings just weren't worth the money while others were.
Tip 4: Bring meals.
Bringing our own meals saves a ton of time, decisions, and money while our own food keeps our stomachs from acting out and helps us appreciate our few meals out. We keep it simple. Granola or muesli (soaked grains) and yogurt and fresh fruit for breakfast. These are easily eaten while driving. Carrot sticks or tortilla chips for snacks. Sandwiches (loaves of bread, deli meat, tomato, bagged salad, mayo and Italian dressing) or bean burritos (tortillas, pepperjack cheese, canned refried beans, and salsa) for lunch or dinner. We also purchased stuff for grilling while we were there. By the time we went out to eat (with solid recommendations and coupons in hand) let me tell you, everything was tasting really good!
Tip 5: Feast.
Bring lots of treats that you don't usually have. For us this means sweets and entertainment DVDs. We brought marshmallows and toasted them after grilling one meal. We brought hot chocolate and put in marshmallows (I'm noticing a pattern here.) We purchased a box of local chocolates while there. We chewed gum - while in the van - probably won't do THAT again. We purchased ice cream cones (with coupons) and cannolis (without coupons because they are SO worth it!) And we ate gourmet jelly beans...which leads me to...
Tip 6: Carry on traditions.
Somewhere along the line years ago I brought a bag of gourmet jelly beans on a long drive with the family. We turned the jelly beans into a game called "Name That Jelly Bean." One person looks at the jelly bean and hands it to another family member. That member isn't supposed to look (but they do) then eat it and try to figure out the flavor. One of the reasons some of us look is because no one wants to get stuck with "buttered popcorn." Some children think it is hilarious to stick their sibling with a "buttered popcorn." Oh the groans from the recipient and the howling of laughter from the rest of us - I mean them:). Anyway, now we have this tradition. We simply can not go on a long ride without the gourmet jelly beans. Look for and foster your own traditions. They tend to create themselves. By the way, my favorite jelly bean is cinnamon.
Tip 7: Fill in a calendar, loosely.
Take your favorite activities and place them on the calendar with enough cushion to absorb changes of plans. We find it easiest to stay at a place that is fun in and of itself. We are blessed to be able to stay at a military hotel on the beach. Being on the beach was our daily activity, then each day we would go out once either for a meal or for an additional activity. This was plenty.
Tip 8: Let the baby sleep.
Sleep is good for every one, especially little ones. And a well-rested little one is key to having a pleasant vacation. Make time for sleep and value it.
Tip 9: Keep discipline.
Parents, me included, tend to want to "relax" and "not parent" so much and "let the kids relax" and "have a good time" but the bottom line is that parents need to parent in order for all to have a good time. Since our older children are mostly cooperative, we brought two easy tools with us. We asked them to sit out from an activity until they were under control or we charged them money. Now before you think "How lame is that to charge kids money for lack of cooperation?" my kids were the ones who came up with this idea! And it worked. It only had to be used once in the van when two boys who shall go unnamed started doing the ole pushing and shoving "he's in my space" thing. Peace for a buck. Not bad.
Tip 10: Pray all prayers first!
We noticed that when we vacation, we don't stick to our whole daily prayer routine. We mean too but we miss something here or there. This trip, we said ALL of our daily prayers (yes, morning prayers, afternoon prayers and evening prayers) first thing in the morning. We either went for a walk on the beach and prayed them or we prayed them in the van on the way to an outing. I was reluctant at first to do this, worried that we would be irreverent or worse, but it was beautiful. There was something pretty powerful about such extended prayer, something rhythmical and enveloping. Plus, we didn't feel worried all day that we might "forget."
Our recent vacation was voted as the best yet by all family members. There was just enough rest and activity, plain food and fun food, nature and glitz, silliness and serious conversation, order and spontaneity, and prayer to meet each one's needs. Plus it was within our budget and I had excellent eggplant parmigiana and two different cannolis. Now, that's a vacation.
Tip 1: Plan but don't over plan.
Often one parent is the primo planner while the other is the, um, less than primo planner. What the primo planner may not know is that the under-planner may be onto something. Over-planning not only expends a ton of energy before a trip, but it can set expectations too high and thwart flexibility and spontaneity upon arrival. The best way to not over plan is to focus less on planning a tight schedule, and plan based on family priorities.
Tip 2: Identify family priorities.
We had a brief meeting a few days before our trip and talked about what we liked about past vacations and what we didn't like. We listed everything that anyone liked. Then we talked about what "vacation" means to each of us. Some of us love lots of activity, some of us like to sleep in, some of us like an orderly room, some like to eat great Italian food (that's me!) Don't forget to fill in what your littles will like to do...sleep, play undisturbed, not be dragged to too many activities, etc. From this list we chose our favorite activities to be placed on the calendar later.
Tip 3: Staying within a budget.
We talked about costs honestly before the trip and about how much we would like to spend. We got creative and found online coupons for some amusements and purchased a 2007 Entertainment book on sale cheap at Entertainment.com but you can also get them at Ebay - coupons good through Nov. 1 2007. We decided that somethings just weren't worth the money while others were.
Tip 4: Bring meals.
Bringing our own meals saves a ton of time, decisions, and money while our own food keeps our stomachs from acting out and helps us appreciate our few meals out. We keep it simple. Granola or muesli (soaked grains) and yogurt and fresh fruit for breakfast. These are easily eaten while driving. Carrot sticks or tortilla chips for snacks. Sandwiches (loaves of bread, deli meat, tomato, bagged salad, mayo and Italian dressing) or bean burritos (tortillas, pepperjack cheese, canned refried beans, and salsa) for lunch or dinner. We also purchased stuff for grilling while we were there. By the time we went out to eat (with solid recommendations and coupons in hand) let me tell you, everything was tasting really good!
Tip 5: Feast.
Bring lots of treats that you don't usually have. For us this means sweets and entertainment DVDs. We brought marshmallows and toasted them after grilling one meal. We brought hot chocolate and put in marshmallows (I'm noticing a pattern here.) We purchased a box of local chocolates while there. We chewed gum - while in the van - probably won't do THAT again. We purchased ice cream cones (with coupons) and cannolis (without coupons because they are SO worth it!) And we ate gourmet jelly beans...which leads me to...
Tip 6: Carry on traditions.
Somewhere along the line years ago I brought a bag of gourmet jelly beans on a long drive with the family. We turned the jelly beans into a game called "Name That Jelly Bean." One person looks at the jelly bean and hands it to another family member. That member isn't supposed to look (but they do) then eat it and try to figure out the flavor. One of the reasons some of us look is because no one wants to get stuck with "buttered popcorn." Some children think it is hilarious to stick their sibling with a "buttered popcorn." Oh the groans from the recipient and the howling of laughter from the rest of us - I mean them:). Anyway, now we have this tradition. We simply can not go on a long ride without the gourmet jelly beans. Look for and foster your own traditions. They tend to create themselves. By the way, my favorite jelly bean is cinnamon.
Tip 7: Fill in a calendar, loosely.
Take your favorite activities and place them on the calendar with enough cushion to absorb changes of plans. We find it easiest to stay at a place that is fun in and of itself. We are blessed to be able to stay at a military hotel on the beach. Being on the beach was our daily activity, then each day we would go out once either for a meal or for an additional activity. This was plenty.
Tip 8: Let the baby sleep.
Sleep is good for every one, especially little ones. And a well-rested little one is key to having a pleasant vacation. Make time for sleep and value it.
Tip 9: Keep discipline.
Parents, me included, tend to want to "relax" and "not parent" so much and "let the kids relax" and "have a good time" but the bottom line is that parents need to parent in order for all to have a good time. Since our older children are mostly cooperative, we brought two easy tools with us. We asked them to sit out from an activity until they were under control or we charged them money. Now before you think "How lame is that to charge kids money for lack of cooperation?" my kids were the ones who came up with this idea! And it worked. It only had to be used once in the van when two boys who shall go unnamed started doing the ole pushing and shoving "he's in my space" thing. Peace for a buck. Not bad.
Tip 10: Pray all prayers first!
We noticed that when we vacation, we don't stick to our whole daily prayer routine. We mean too but we miss something here or there. This trip, we said ALL of our daily prayers (yes, morning prayers, afternoon prayers and evening prayers) first thing in the morning. We either went for a walk on the beach and prayed them or we prayed them in the van on the way to an outing. I was reluctant at first to do this, worried that we would be irreverent or worse, but it was beautiful. There was something pretty powerful about such extended prayer, something rhythmical and enveloping. Plus, we didn't feel worried all day that we might "forget."
Our recent vacation was voted as the best yet by all family members. There was just enough rest and activity, plain food and fun food, nature and glitz, silliness and serious conversation, order and spontaneity, and prayer to meet each one's needs. Plus it was within our budget and I had excellent eggplant parmigiana and two different cannolis. Now, that's a vacation.
Saturday, September 01, 2007
I Came to Delete My Blog...
...and decided not to. How funny!
So much in blogging has changed since I wrote my first post. Mainly, an amazing blogging community has flourished. A long time ago I realized that I wasn't going to fit into the blogging community. This isn't because I'm not welcome, but because I'm not devoted to building community in this way. I'm not able to participate in the relationship aspect of blogging. So why should I blog? Why not just delete the blog and call it an interesting experiemnt? Well, maybe I'll want to read my blog for myself. I don't keep a journal. I'm a terrible letter writer. Yet, I like to have someplace to put my thoughts in writing. Maybe that's enough. I'll need to think on it.
So much in blogging has changed since I wrote my first post. Mainly, an amazing blogging community has flourished. A long time ago I realized that I wasn't going to fit into the blogging community. This isn't because I'm not welcome, but because I'm not devoted to building community in this way. I'm not able to participate in the relationship aspect of blogging. So why should I blog? Why not just delete the blog and call it an interesting experiemnt? Well, maybe I'll want to read my blog for myself. I don't keep a journal. I'm a terrible letter writer. Yet, I like to have someplace to put my thoughts in writing. Maybe that's enough. I'll need to think on it.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Halloween...Boo!
I was raised with American Northeast Halloween style. I went to a tiny Catholic school and learned a Halloween song from the nuns. I dressed in a home-made princess (young child) or witch (older child) costumes. I went trick-or-treating with my brother and friends. We would sing a song to get a treat, and no I never personally did tricks (although I can't vouch for my brother or friends.)
As an adult I wandered west and away from the Catholic Church. Before I headed back to both, I had some time to learn a few things about how others lived their values, with Halloween as an example. I had never given Halloween much thought but being a brand new mommy gave me incentive to think, because like my peers, we wanted to do right by our young children keeping gentleness in mind. I became friends with many intense and thoughtful people...no sheep here. Some friends were liberal secular thinkers. Their beliefs were well-intentioned, thoughtful, and interesting. Halloween was out because it was unsophisticated, too dark, and it bought into our superficial culture. I became friends with many conservative faithful thinkers. Their beliefs were well-intentioned, basic, and passionate. Halloween was out because it was "the work of the devil." I wrestled with Halloween, feeling both confused and apathetic. You see, Halloween wasn't my favorite holiday as a child. I didn't like much candy, I was very shy, and I didn't like scary things. Skipping Halloween altogether had some appeal. Yet, it my memory it was a simple day that was fun and sweet. Nothing more...nothing less.
Once back in the Church, I realized that I had absorbed a very Catholic perspective on Halloween. For a child and adult who never cared much for Halloween, I now found myself defending it, much to my surprise. Within the context of Halloween/All Saints/All Souls day, Halloween make sense. The trick (no pun intended) is to not make it more or less than it is. It isn't a holiday that deserves weeks of planning, decorating, and celebrating. It doesn't need to be about money, gore, and evil. It isn't a holiday that needs to be ignored or rejected because this gives it too much power.
Each year looks different for our family. This year our family will decorate our home outside in classic spooky style. Some of us will trick-or-treat while others stay home with littles and hand out treats from our home. We will dress up in classic and original style...princesses, pirates, witches, clowns, spooky guys, cowboys, Lord of the Rings, Teenage werewolf from the 50's, hippy, animals, hobos, and more. Our boys will spend much of their time at a neighbor's home who does an exceptional job of decorating his garage as a haunted house, scary enough for bigger kids and adults while tame enough on one side for littles. When every thing is over, the children will dump their candy on the table and swap with each other for favorites. We'll put some away for Christmas stockings. I'll make some spiced cider and serve Halloween cookies. Tomorrow morning we'll get up early and take down all the decorations and pack them away for next year. Sweet.
Next? Bring on the great stuff. Let All Saints, All Souls, and the month of remembering our dead, begin.
As an adult I wandered west and away from the Catholic Church. Before I headed back to both, I had some time to learn a few things about how others lived their values, with Halloween as an example. I had never given Halloween much thought but being a brand new mommy gave me incentive to think, because like my peers, we wanted to do right by our young children keeping gentleness in mind. I became friends with many intense and thoughtful people...no sheep here. Some friends were liberal secular thinkers. Their beliefs were well-intentioned, thoughtful, and interesting. Halloween was out because it was unsophisticated, too dark, and it bought into our superficial culture. I became friends with many conservative faithful thinkers. Their beliefs were well-intentioned, basic, and passionate. Halloween was out because it was "the work of the devil." I wrestled with Halloween, feeling both confused and apathetic. You see, Halloween wasn't my favorite holiday as a child. I didn't like much candy, I was very shy, and I didn't like scary things. Skipping Halloween altogether had some appeal. Yet, it my memory it was a simple day that was fun and sweet. Nothing more...nothing less.
Once back in the Church, I realized that I had absorbed a very Catholic perspective on Halloween. For a child and adult who never cared much for Halloween, I now found myself defending it, much to my surprise. Within the context of Halloween/All Saints/All Souls day, Halloween make sense. The trick (no pun intended) is to not make it more or less than it is. It isn't a holiday that deserves weeks of planning, decorating, and celebrating. It doesn't need to be about money, gore, and evil. It isn't a holiday that needs to be ignored or rejected because this gives it too much power.
Each year looks different for our family. This year our family will decorate our home outside in classic spooky style. Some of us will trick-or-treat while others stay home with littles and hand out treats from our home. We will dress up in classic and original style...princesses, pirates, witches, clowns, spooky guys, cowboys, Lord of the Rings, Teenage werewolf from the 50's, hippy, animals, hobos, and more. Our boys will spend much of their time at a neighbor's home who does an exceptional job of decorating his garage as a haunted house, scary enough for bigger kids and adults while tame enough on one side for littles. When every thing is over, the children will dump their candy on the table and swap with each other for favorites. We'll put some away for Christmas stockings. I'll make some spiced cider and serve Halloween cookies. Tomorrow morning we'll get up early and take down all the decorations and pack them away for next year. Sweet.
Next? Bring on the great stuff. Let All Saints, All Souls, and the month of remembering our dead, begin.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Rule of 6
When Mary G. posted an invitation to describe our family's Rule of 6, I thought this would be a fun opportunity to look at our family priority list from a fresh angle. Here's goes!
1. Pray.
2. Grow in Catholic virtue and culture.
3. Meet personal care needs.
4. Build positive relationships.
5. Work hard on meaningful skills and services.
6. Immerse in and discuss all encompassed by Philippians 4:8.
Thinking in terms of daily use of a Rule of Six, the biggest perk is to be satisfied and grateful at the end of each day with what is accomplished. I can look at all that is done and objectively see what does and doesn't fit with our family priorities. What does fit is worthy of our time, even if it wasn't on the schedule or didn't quite turn out as planned. For me and our family, this is so much better than trying to prove personal discipline through sticking to a planned schedule or feeling a constant failure for not sticking with a planned schedule. Also, I can isolate what doesn't fit, giving our family infinite opportunities to work on our weak areas.
A Rule of 6 can also be used in broader ways. Most recently we used our family priority list to help discern our decision to do high school at home. Our list of five priorities could, and should, be expanded to include...
Priority Six: Immersion and Discussion in Whatever...
How can we help her to grow in the spirit of Philippians 4:8? How can we help her to immerse herself in whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, gracious, excellent, and praise-worthy? How can we help her to enjoy, think about, discuss, and produce projects about these things?
Thank you, Lissa and Mary. It has been helpful and enjoyable to think about these things with you!
1. Pray.
2. Grow in Catholic virtue and culture.
3. Meet personal care needs.
4. Build positive relationships.
5. Work hard on meaningful skills and services.
6. Immerse in and discuss all encompassed by Philippians 4:8.
Thinking in terms of daily use of a Rule of Six, the biggest perk is to be satisfied and grateful at the end of each day with what is accomplished. I can look at all that is done and objectively see what does and doesn't fit with our family priorities. What does fit is worthy of our time, even if it wasn't on the schedule or didn't quite turn out as planned. For me and our family, this is so much better than trying to prove personal discipline through sticking to a planned schedule or feeling a constant failure for not sticking with a planned schedule. Also, I can isolate what doesn't fit, giving our family infinite opportunities to work on our weak areas.
A Rule of 6 can also be used in broader ways. Most recently we used our family priority list to help discern our decision to do high school at home. Our list of five priorities could, and should, be expanded to include...
Priority Six: Immersion and Discussion in Whatever...
How can we help her to grow in the spirit of Philippians 4:8? How can we help her to immerse herself in whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, gracious, excellent, and praise-worthy? How can we help her to enjoy, think about, discuss, and produce projects about these things?
Thank you, Lissa and Mary. It has been helpful and enjoyable to think about these things with you!
Saturday, September 02, 2006
High School at Home
At the heart of choosing to home educate through high school, my daughter and our family felt that this path fit our priorities best. Looking at all outside options, continuing to home educate makes most sense. Looking at all home schooling options, High School of Your Dreams, make most sense.
There is a lot of social pressure to make academics the top priority for all high schoolers. The argument is that this is the season for intensive academic growth and preparation for college. Yet, our family continues to question this argument. More specifically, we ask ourselves, what would an academically rich curriculum look like that wouldn't sacrifice other, we believe higher, priorities?
Priority one: God
How will we protect, foster, and ensure an environment that brings our high schooler closer to God? How will we make time for an increase and maturity in prayer? How will we minimize distractions from and attacks against our high schoolers relationship with God? How will she receive opportunities to defend God and her faith, growing in spiritual strength and maturity? How will she best get to know and love her faith?
Priority two: Virtue
How will we help her to continue to grow in virtue? How can we help her build upon her strengths while dealing directly with her weaknesses? How can we best mentor and guide her? What virtues are of highest priority?
Priority three: Personal Care
How can we help her to get enough sleep? Eat well? Exercise? Heal in time of illness? How can we help her to best prevent harm to her body, to avoid being exposed to alcohol, drugs, body piercing, tattooing, slicing, promiscuity, and more?
Priority four: Relationships
How do we help her to stay connected in a healthy way to those who love her, and who she loves, the most? How do we encourage healthy friendships?
Priority five: Skills and Service
How do we help her to grow in academic skill? How do we help her to prepare for her vocation of wife and mother? How do we help her to prepare for college? How do we help her to serve others through her talents and gifts?
When batting all this around a few months ago, we were honest with our daughter. Although we felt that we could provide a unique, enriching, and real-life high school curriculum, there may be negative consequences connected with this decision. Some people may not understand it. Some colleges may not accept it. Some tests scores may not be as high as under other circumstances. Yet when all was said and done and the decision needed to be made, we chose to stay home and to continue learning together.
There is a lot of social pressure to make academics the top priority for all high schoolers. The argument is that this is the season for intensive academic growth and preparation for college. Yet, our family continues to question this argument. More specifically, we ask ourselves, what would an academically rich curriculum look like that wouldn't sacrifice other, we believe higher, priorities?
Priority one: God
How will we protect, foster, and ensure an environment that brings our high schooler closer to God? How will we make time for an increase and maturity in prayer? How will we minimize distractions from and attacks against our high schoolers relationship with God? How will she receive opportunities to defend God and her faith, growing in spiritual strength and maturity? How will she best get to know and love her faith?
Priority two: Virtue
How will we help her to continue to grow in virtue? How can we help her build upon her strengths while dealing directly with her weaknesses? How can we best mentor and guide her? What virtues are of highest priority?
Priority three: Personal Care
How can we help her to get enough sleep? Eat well? Exercise? Heal in time of illness? How can we help her to best prevent harm to her body, to avoid being exposed to alcohol, drugs, body piercing, tattooing, slicing, promiscuity, and more?
Priority four: Relationships
How do we help her to stay connected in a healthy way to those who love her, and who she loves, the most? How do we encourage healthy friendships?
Priority five: Skills and Service
How do we help her to grow in academic skill? How do we help her to prepare for her vocation of wife and mother? How do we help her to prepare for college? How do we help her to serve others through her talents and gifts?
When batting all this around a few months ago, we were honest with our daughter. Although we felt that we could provide a unique, enriching, and real-life high school curriculum, there may be negative consequences connected with this decision. Some people may not understand it. Some colleges may not accept it. Some tests scores may not be as high as under other circumstances. Yet when all was said and done and the decision needed to be made, we chose to stay home and to continue learning together.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Shiny Corners
Our family life is currently shiny bright. This isn't bragging. It is the truth, God-given, and appreciated. Practicing our faith, living our values, and sticking together through the tough times has helped us to flourish. Since the accident, I've been wondering if all our brightness has tricked me, tricked our family, into not seeing some shaded corners of our otherwise shiny life.
Corner one: Finances
The accident cost us money and forced us to look again at how we have been handling our money. There was a time, not long ago, when our family was debt-free and had comfortable savings. This lifestyle was gained through a lot of hard work and sacrifice. Yet, the past few years brought with them financial challenges combined with growing children and apathy that a good, secure income can bring.
Where is the family glue here? Our new family project, of course! We are working together on our finances to include reading books on the subject, having meetings, pulling together a budget, and of course making financial sacrifices to reach our goals.
Corner two: Time Management
The accident cost us time. Plus, after I finally said, "Yes," to God to look again at our finances, I had to beg, "Lord, I know how much time and energy this will entail! Can you PLEASE help me to figure out how I can squeeze one more thing into my full life?" Within a few days, He helped me see a solution to a time management puzzle that has been haunting me for over a year.
The stage is now set for many blog posts as our family bumbles, I mean grows in unity, through our latest projects. Thanks be to God.
Corner one: Finances
The accident cost us money and forced us to look again at how we have been handling our money. There was a time, not long ago, when our family was debt-free and had comfortable savings. This lifestyle was gained through a lot of hard work and sacrifice. Yet, the past few years brought with them financial challenges combined with growing children and apathy that a good, secure income can bring.
Where is the family glue here? Our new family project, of course! We are working together on our finances to include reading books on the subject, having meetings, pulling together a budget, and of course making financial sacrifices to reach our goals.
Corner two: Time Management
The accident cost us time. Plus, after I finally said, "Yes," to God to look again at our finances, I had to beg, "Lord, I know how much time and energy this will entail! Can you PLEASE help me to figure out how I can squeeze one more thing into my full life?" Within a few days, He helped me see a solution to a time management puzzle that has been haunting me for over a year.
The stage is now set for many blog posts as our family bumbles, I mean grows in unity, through our latest projects. Thanks be to God.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Crash and Rebuild
On July 11, 2006, our whole family was in a vehicle accident that left our old van totaled, our bodies bruised and achey, and our souls strong. Going through difficulties together as a family has a way of showing our strengths and weaknesses. Fortunately, this time, we saw mostly our strengths.
It has been a long haul recovering from this accident. Much time was diverted from other areas of our family life to deal with the fallout. Although our family was not at fault, we needed to spend a lot of energy standing up for ourselves and making sure that we were restored to as close to our life before the accident as possible.
In the midst of this drawn out affair, I kept thinking...wishing...hoping...that it would be over soon. I wanted my life back quickly. I wanted normalcy. I wanted...I wanted...
Well, God didn't want us to go back to normal. He wanted us to hang out on our knees for awhile. He wanted us to take a good, hard look at ourselves. I was reminded of a metaphor for the development of children. Children develop like a house of cards. Two cards are propped together and stand...for awhile. Then something causes the primitive house of cards to collapse. The two cards are picked up and restructured, using two more cards. This house stands for a longer time. Yet, the house eventually collapses again. This collapse and rebuild happens over and over as the child develops and matures, integrating new and old.
Once I stopped wanting "life as I knew it" back, I was able to say "yes" to God in a more complete way. Our family has been able to grow and mature. We crashed and with God's grace, we are rebuilding something more durable, stable, flexible, and beautiful.
It has been a long haul recovering from this accident. Much time was diverted from other areas of our family life to deal with the fallout. Although our family was not at fault, we needed to spend a lot of energy standing up for ourselves and making sure that we were restored to as close to our life before the accident as possible.
In the midst of this drawn out affair, I kept thinking...wishing...hoping...that it would be over soon. I wanted my life back quickly. I wanted normalcy. I wanted...I wanted...
Well, God didn't want us to go back to normal. He wanted us to hang out on our knees for awhile. He wanted us to take a good, hard look at ourselves. I was reminded of a metaphor for the development of children. Children develop like a house of cards. Two cards are propped together and stand...for awhile. Then something causes the primitive house of cards to collapse. The two cards are picked up and restructured, using two more cards. This house stands for a longer time. Yet, the house eventually collapses again. This collapse and rebuild happens over and over as the child develops and matures, integrating new and old.
Once I stopped wanting "life as I knew it" back, I was able to say "yes" to God in a more complete way. Our family has been able to grow and mature. We crashed and with God's grace, we are rebuilding something more durable, stable, flexible, and beautiful.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Young Man and All Star
In my last post, I wrote vaguely about the family transitions we are experiencing. Today, I'll write about one involving Little League All Stars and the metamorphosis of my ten year old son.
My son made the All Star team this season and was the starting catcher for the nine and ten year olds. He had a great season, loves the game, and respects his coach. The All Star team brought together new team mates, some of whom up front were strutting their stuff in a way that is typical but inappropriate. My son was challenged in a way that he hasn't been in the past. He had to stand up for his values, home schooling, and faith in a more mature way.
Going into the world as a young man is no easy ride. My husband has been steadfast in his support. But dad hasn't had to do it alone. My son wrote another athlete, a seventeen year old Catholic home-educated young man, asking him for advice. The reply he received was priceless. Good man to good man support is priceless. My son handled the challenges well, better than his mother, and before my eyes I saw glimpses of the man God is calling him to be.
After sticking to his guns, much practice as a team, and an earned respect and friendship among the players, my son was confident and eager to begin tournament play. I sat on the sidelines, both literally and figuratively. I cheered, reassured, purchased enough sports drink for a small army, and stomped on the ground when the ump made a bad call.
Two moments from the tournament stand out most in my mind. The first happened when four teams lined up on the first and third base lines, eagerly awaiting the tournament to begin. Introductions were made, fans clapped, then we were asked to stand for the National Anthem. My son, in his catcher gear, put his hand to his heart, gave full attention to the flag, and sang. No fidgeting. No looking at his feet. No waving at his family. Time stopped for me. My eyes welled with pride and a bittersweet realization that this was no longer a little boy.
The second moment came when my son's team lost in the semi-finals when in the bottom of the last inning, the other team came up with a run to squeak past us for the win. I never thought I would feel so broken-hearted. My mind knows "this is just a Little League game," but my heart had grown to care for all the players and their families. Even more, my heart was growing in deeper love with the young man catching. I watched him hold his head high, congratulate the other team, and reassure his team mates. He thanked his coaches, thanked his family, and thanked God for the opportunity. He choked back tears, a young man, a true All Star. He choked the tears back much better than his mom.
My son made the All Star team this season and was the starting catcher for the nine and ten year olds. He had a great season, loves the game, and respects his coach. The All Star team brought together new team mates, some of whom up front were strutting their stuff in a way that is typical but inappropriate. My son was challenged in a way that he hasn't been in the past. He had to stand up for his values, home schooling, and faith in a more mature way.
Going into the world as a young man is no easy ride. My husband has been steadfast in his support. But dad hasn't had to do it alone. My son wrote another athlete, a seventeen year old Catholic home-educated young man, asking him for advice. The reply he received was priceless. Good man to good man support is priceless. My son handled the challenges well, better than his mother, and before my eyes I saw glimpses of the man God is calling him to be.
After sticking to his guns, much practice as a team, and an earned respect and friendship among the players, my son was confident and eager to begin tournament play. I sat on the sidelines, both literally and figuratively. I cheered, reassured, purchased enough sports drink for a small army, and stomped on the ground when the ump made a bad call.
Two moments from the tournament stand out most in my mind. The first happened when four teams lined up on the first and third base lines, eagerly awaiting the tournament to begin. Introductions were made, fans clapped, then we were asked to stand for the National Anthem. My son, in his catcher gear, put his hand to his heart, gave full attention to the flag, and sang. No fidgeting. No looking at his feet. No waving at his family. Time stopped for me. My eyes welled with pride and a bittersweet realization that this was no longer a little boy.
The second moment came when my son's team lost in the semi-finals when in the bottom of the last inning, the other team came up with a run to squeak past us for the win. I never thought I would feel so broken-hearted. My mind knows "this is just a Little League game," but my heart had grown to care for all the players and their families. Even more, my heart was growing in deeper love with the young man catching. I watched him hold his head high, congratulate the other team, and reassure his team mates. He thanked his coaches, thanked his family, and thanked God for the opportunity. He choked back tears, a young man, a true All Star. He choked the tears back much better than his mom.
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Time Squared
Wow can time rev up and move on leaving me in its wake! The only explanation I have for being away from my blog is that our family is going through several big transitions that I’ll be writing about in future posts. This is all exciting yet head-spinning. A few days ago my heart cried out, “Stop this thing! I want to get off!”
I read years ago in a business publication, that there are two different types of time, chronos and mythos. Chronos time is linear, definable, and countable. Here are some examples. “Meet me at 9:00.” “We eat dinner at 6:00.” “On June 7th we’re having friends to visit.” Mythos time is something else entirely. Mythos time is non-linear, hard to define, and hard to grasp. Mythos time explains why a vacation week sweeps by so much more quickly than a week having the flu. The gist of the article was that excellent executives know, or learn, how to move smoothly between and take advantage of the two.
When I read the article, I was a public administrator. Shortly after reading the article I became a mother. When I was a public administrator, I power walked the straight path of chronos time. Oh what discipline, pride, and comfort! When I became a mommy, I plunged into the swirling sea of mythos time. I left my false discipline, pride, and comfort behind. For example, I learned that to succeed in breastfeeding, I needed to not look at the clock. I learned that to gain rest, I needed to be resourceful and not count on eight hours straight between ten and six. I learned that time can stop when my daughter stared into my eyes.
Mythos time became Mommy time. I didn’t keep a calendar. I didn’t wear a watch. I didn’t plan much at all. I nursed my baby. I slept with my baby. I savored my time with her. Floating in pure mythos time doesn’t happen often in life, I’ve learned. It is a gift. Mythos time is God’s time.
How was my time spent these past few weeks? I was wrestling with chronos time, meeting unusual time commitments, and mythos time, meeting unusual people needs and happenstances. I was called to trust that my well-planned days and weeks needed to be put aside to swim in the uncertainty of God’s will for me. The rush is over...I think. I’m tentatively planning to get back to our usual routine, full of chronos time aides. We’ll see what God has planned for me.
I read years ago in a business publication, that there are two different types of time, chronos and mythos. Chronos time is linear, definable, and countable. Here are some examples. “Meet me at 9:00.” “We eat dinner at 6:00.” “On June 7th we’re having friends to visit.” Mythos time is something else entirely. Mythos time is non-linear, hard to define, and hard to grasp. Mythos time explains why a vacation week sweeps by so much more quickly than a week having the flu. The gist of the article was that excellent executives know, or learn, how to move smoothly between and take advantage of the two.
When I read the article, I was a public administrator. Shortly after reading the article I became a mother. When I was a public administrator, I power walked the straight path of chronos time. Oh what discipline, pride, and comfort! When I became a mommy, I plunged into the swirling sea of mythos time. I left my false discipline, pride, and comfort behind. For example, I learned that to succeed in breastfeeding, I needed to not look at the clock. I learned that to gain rest, I needed to be resourceful and not count on eight hours straight between ten and six. I learned that time can stop when my daughter stared into my eyes.
Mythos time became Mommy time. I didn’t keep a calendar. I didn’t wear a watch. I didn’t plan much at all. I nursed my baby. I slept with my baby. I savored my time with her. Floating in pure mythos time doesn’t happen often in life, I’ve learned. It is a gift. Mythos time is God’s time.
How was my time spent these past few weeks? I was wrestling with chronos time, meeting unusual time commitments, and mythos time, meeting unusual people needs and happenstances. I was called to trust that my well-planned days and weeks needed to be put aside to swim in the uncertainty of God’s will for me. The rush is over...I think. I’m tentatively planning to get back to our usual routine, full of chronos time aides. We’ll see what God has planned for me.
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Sweet Names
Little did I know when I started calling my husband, "Honey," in our early years of marriage that the name would stick. My first baby became "Sweetheart" early, and Sweetheart she remains. My second baby became "Babe," giving our family a glimpse into his baseball future. My third baby became "Spunky," then morphed into "Little Man" and now has reverted back to "Spunky." The name fits.
With our current baby, I call him "Chunky Monkey" and "Hunk a Chunk a Burnin' Love" and any combination of the two. I was tempted to call him "Fang" when his top teeth came in, not with the usual top two first but with the teeth on either side first. I thought better.
It's funny. These sweet names aren't interchangeable. I don't call my husband Sweetheart and definitely won't call my daughter Chunk. I wonder if the names will stick. I wonder what other names will arise and fit in the future. For more on terms of endearment, check out "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" by Elizabeth Foss.
Have a blessed Sunday.
With our current baby, I call him "Chunky Monkey" and "Hunk a Chunk a Burnin' Love" and any combination of the two. I was tempted to call him "Fang" when his top teeth came in, not with the usual top two first but with the teeth on either side first. I thought better.
It's funny. These sweet names aren't interchangeable. I don't call my husband Sweetheart and definitely won't call my daughter Chunk. I wonder if the names will stick. I wonder what other names will arise and fit in the future. For more on terms of endearment, check out "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" by Elizabeth Foss.
Have a blessed Sunday.
Friday, May 12, 2006
More on Pegs
Lissa has done a fabulous job of explaining family organizational pegs while also giving credit toLeonie for first sharing this concept with the CCM list. Thank you, Lissa and Leonie!
Here are two of my previous posts about how pegs work in our day and help us pray.
Here are two of my previous posts about how pegs work in our day and help us pray.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Sacrifice and May 19th Family Activity Suggestion
I've had a general post in my draft box about the othercott to The Da Vinci Code for two weeks. Now I know why I didn't post it earlier. I just heard that one of my dearly loved ones is tempted to see TDVC. My general post has just gotten personal.
Sacrifice it. Yes, "Curious," sacrifice seeing TDVC. Why? Because it is the right thing to do. It really is that simple.
I'll let others explain the nitty gritty of why TDVC is a "frontal assault on Jesus Christ and all of Christianity" according to Teresa Tomeo, Host of Catholic Connection. You'll appreciate their thorough and intelligent research. I'll speak to you. I know you love movies. I also know that you enjoy being in the know and in the now. But I also know that you have worked so hard to straighten your path and seek the truth. This is a perfect opportunity for you to sacrifice.
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church,
Not only is this an opportunity to sacrifice, it is an opportunity to trust the Catholic Church and to trust fully evangelized Catholics to speak the truth about this movie.
Here's an idea. I know a way that you can see a good movie AND have fun with your family AND avoid having to discuss this topic with me ever again. The movie, Over the Hedge is getting good reviews and just so happens to be opening on the same day as TDVC.
Sony and Dan Brown urge us to SEEK THE TRUTH! I wholeheartedly agree. Let's seek...
Sacrifice it. Yes, "Curious," sacrifice seeing TDVC. Why? Because it is the right thing to do. It really is that simple.
I'll let others explain the nitty gritty of why TDVC is a "frontal assault on Jesus Christ and all of Christianity" according to Teresa Tomeo, Host of Catholic Connection. You'll appreciate their thorough and intelligent research. I'll speak to you. I know you love movies. I also know that you enjoy being in the know and in the now. But I also know that you have worked so hard to straighten your path and seek the truth. This is a perfect opportunity for you to sacrifice.
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church,
2099
It is right to offer sacrifice to God as a sign of adoration and gratitude, supplication and communion: "Every action done so as to cling to God in communion of holiness, and thus achieve blessedness, is a true sacrifice."16
Not only is this an opportunity to sacrifice, it is an opportunity to trust the Catholic Church and to trust fully evangelized Catholics to speak the truth about this movie.
Here's an idea. I know a way that you can see a good movie AND have fun with your family AND avoid having to discuss this topic with me ever again. The movie, Over the Hedge is getting good reviews and just so happens to be opening on the same day as TDVC.
Sony and Dan Brown urge us to SEEK THE TRUTH! I wholeheartedly agree. Let's seek...
...whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.Seek...and find...the Truth. You bet!
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Open to Life
The area of the heart where I have grown most in clarity since my reversion to the Catholic Church is in openness to life. This is largely due to the wonderful families that I have come to know through online friendships and local Catholic homeschooling families. In Elizabeth Foss' article, In Praise of Big Families, you can see an example of the loving hearts and clear minds that have highly influenced me. Lovingly said and lived, Elizabeth.
In her article, Elizabeth quotes another friend, Bridget,
Last week I had a follow-up conversation with a new friend at a local Catholic homeschooling event. Previously, Christy had told me that her family was caring for her husband's grandmother at home. The grandmother was in hospice care, facing the end of her life. Now Christy informed me that grandma had responded so well to being in their loving home care that grandma is no longer with hospice, which according to these experts means she is no longer looking at near death. Christy went on to tell me that she quit her part-time job to be more available to grandma. She talked about the privilege of caring for grandma and shared with me tender and funny ways that the family helped grandma to receive their care and keep her pride in tact. With a pretty smile, she told me that caring for grandma fits right in with being the mother of four young children. Then she quipped, "You could say that we're open to the END of life, and what that brings to a family." Lovingly said and lived, Christy.
In her article, Elizabeth quotes another friend, Bridget,
It is hard to explain to a young couple just starting out or even to an older couple who has not had this openness how married love can grow from the challenges of many children. Indeed, the openness may be key here, rather than the actual numbers of children. The openness is up to us, the number is up to God.Lovingly said and lived, Bridget.
Last week I had a follow-up conversation with a new friend at a local Catholic homeschooling event. Previously, Christy had told me that her family was caring for her husband's grandmother at home. The grandmother was in hospice care, facing the end of her life. Now Christy informed me that grandma had responded so well to being in their loving home care that grandma is no longer with hospice, which according to these experts means she is no longer looking at near death. Christy went on to tell me that she quit her part-time job to be more available to grandma. She talked about the privilege of caring for grandma and shared with me tender and funny ways that the family helped grandma to receive their care and keep her pride in tact. With a pretty smile, she told me that caring for grandma fits right in with being the mother of four young children. Then she quipped, "You could say that we're open to the END of life, and what that brings to a family." Lovingly said and lived, Christy.
Monday, May 01, 2006
Lack of Love
Or Pope says low birth rate is due mainly to lack of love.
It is children and young people who are often the first to experience the consequences of this eclipse of love and hope. Often, instead of feeling loved and cherished, they appear to be merely tolerated. In "an age of turbulence" they frequently lack adequate moral guidance from the adult world, to the serious detriment of their intellectual and spiritual development. Many children now grow up in a society which is forgetful of God and of the innate dignity of the human person made in God’s image. In a world shaped by the accelerating processes of globalization, they are often exposed solely to materialistic visions of the universe, of life and human fulfillment.Amen.
Yet children and young people are by nature receptive, generous, idealistic and open to transcendence. They need above all else to be exposed to love and to develop in a healthy human ecology, where they can come to realize that they have not been cast into the world by chance, but through a gift that is part of God’s loving plan. Parents, educators and community leaders, if they are to be faithful to their own calling, can never renounce their duty to set before children and young people the task of choosing a life project directed towards authentic happiness, one capable of distinguishing between truth and falsehood, good and evil, justice and injustice, the real world and the world of "virtual reality".
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Girlfriend Call
I was blessed today to have a long phone conversation with a girlfriend. It is rare for me to have a leisurely phone conversation and yet when I do, I am reminded how important talking girl talk with a friend is to me...and my family. It is obvious why this is important to me. I'm very fortunate to have intense women friends who challenge, reassure, and encourage me. They also make me laugh. All of this helps me to strive to fulfill my vocation wholeheartedly. Why is a girlfriend chat important to my family? You guessed it; when I'm happy, the family is happy. Or at least they don't have to deal with my foreign-to-them-woman-need that is being met quite nicely without them.
Have you talked on the phone with a girlfriend lately? Consider giving a call. Especially consider giving a call to the friend you are sure is to busy to talk. She might be just the friend who needs to hear from you most.
Have a blessed Sunday!
Have you talked on the phone with a girlfriend lately? Consider giving a call. Especially consider giving a call to the friend you are sure is to busy to talk. She might be just the friend who needs to hear from you most.
Have a blessed Sunday!
Friday, April 28, 2006
Together in Prayer
I just received word that my sweet eight year old niece, who lives thousands of miles away in Pennsylvania, was hospitalized with severe abdominal pain and other serious symptoms. She is being observed and waiting for test results.
It is so hard to be separated from my brother and his family, especially when his daughter is in the hospital. I gain great comfort from knowing that our family is together in prayer.
From St. Frances De Sales,
It is so hard to be separated from my brother and his family, especially when his daughter is in the hospital. I gain great comfort from knowing that our family is together in prayer.
From St. Frances De Sales,
Never think that geographical distance can ever separate souls whom God has united by the ties of His love. The children of the world are separated one from another because their hearts are in different places; but the children of God, having their hearts where their treasure is, and sharing only one treasure - which is the same God - are consequently always united and joined together.Please join me in prayer for my niece. If you feel so called, join our family in a novena to St. Gianna Molla. I have gained much peace from praying to this lovely Saint, knowing how much she loves children and wants the medical profession to be a conduit for God's grace. Thank you.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Arizona hEATS
My daughter and I have a new blog, Arizona hEATS. We're having a lot of fun working together in the kitchen and at the computer. As the temperature heats up, come and pull up a seat on our virtual covered patio and we'll serve you up some iced tea and good hEATS.
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