Rosy

Outside My Window

there is a flat of pansies and a bag of bulbs still waiting to go in the ground. It's happening this morning. Definitely.

I am Listening to

the sound of the shower upstairs. All else is still quiet.

 

I am Wearing

a smile, despite the fact that I'm pretty much stressed to my limit. I'm trying really hard to be a big girl. And not fooling anyone over nine.

I am so Grateful for

a really nice pediatrician. He's a good doctor, but it's the niceness I'm thankful for this week.

I'm Pondering

I merely took the energy it takes to pout and wrote some blues. ~Duke Ellington.

I pouted a whole lot last week. This week, I'm going to force myself to create something good instead.

I am Reading

this pattern, over and over. I cannot figure out how to pick up those wrapped stitches. Somebody help? Please? This is my portable project and I really need it for waiting rooms and car rides and such.

I am Thinking

about nightmares. Does anybody know a cure for chronic nightmares?

I am Creating

Lots. Well, not yet, but I'm going to start very soon. I really need to buckle down in the sewing room this week. Sarah wants a birthday crown and I need to finish the quilt for the NICU before her birthday and I have curtains cut but not finished and... I'm going to start a new project:

 I am learning

to quilt! Deborah Moebes, who is teaching me to sew via her fabulous book, Stitch by Stitch, is teaching an e-course on quilting. And even though I'm super worried about time being at a premium, I'm in! Look for very frequent blog updates as we go. Update: Deborah says that registration will remain open until Friday if you'd like to join us!

 

To live the liturgy:

I have rededicated myself to praying the Hours again, so grateful for worldwide community who prays with me.

Towards a Real Education

Marisa and I have been tweaking a Family Bible Study for over a year now. I think we've finally got it right. 

 

Towards Rhythm and Beauty

I'm recording my rhythm in this beautiful planner this year. And I have to say that just the sight of it makes me smile.

I am Hoping and Praying

for my birthday girl. 

 

Around the House

Leaf dipping is going to happen tomorrow. The leaves are not as pretty this year but Mary Beth was noticing yesterday that some pockets of the neighborhood have enough for us to scoop up. So we will.

From the Kitchen 

I metnioned these awesome cookie bars on Saturday. I'm happy to report that they have skyrocketed to the top of everyone's favorite cookie list. That's pretty high praise, as there are ten cookie experts in this house and it's rare they can all agree on anything, never mind a food thing. Go make some; your whole family will love you for it. But, um, rename them, as that name as it would not be a good idea to tell your husband you thought of him when you read the recipe. Becuase it's totally the chocolate and caramel that made you think of him and not the name. 

I'm pretty sure I'm making more for Bible Study today.

 

On my iPod:

My alarm clock, which is set to sound like church bells, as opposed to Mike's alarm clock which sounds like the soundtrack to the chase scene in an action movie.

One of My Favorite Things

boys who collectively give their sister the perfect birthday gift.

 

On the Calendar for the Week

 An early doctor's appointment this morning and then some focused sewing for the rest of the week. That quilting class starts today and I'm going to try not to become instantly obsessed. At the end of the week, we're going to Charlottesville. After spending the fall touring college campuses, Patrick has his last visit down at UVa this weekend.

Worth a Thousand Words

 

 Michael's girlfriend, Kristin, came to teach some eager Cake Bosses to make fondant roses while Mary Beth was at ballet last week. I think they made her a beautiful cake!

Slice of Life this Monday Morning

Outside My Window

I picked up Mike at the airport in the dark and snuggled with him as the sun rose. Outside my window, it dawned a beautiful day.

I am Listening to

Silence. Very active weekend has left our children sound asleep this Monday morning. I'm grateful that I don't have to hustle them off to school.

I am Wearing

Jeans, floral poplin shirt, cotton cardigan and these shoes. The autumn uniform.

I am so Grateful for

God's lessons. Sometimes it's hard to learn the things He intends us to learn, but I'm always grateful for the lessons.

I'm Pondering

  "Let your religion be less of a theory and more of a love affair." -G.K. Chesterton 

I am Reading

Becoming More than a Good Bible Study Girl I want to tell you more about this book. Hopefully, I can do a proper book post soon.

I am Thinking

about how sad it is that the body of Christ is splintered. We have so much to offer one another and division only and always inflicts pain.

I am Creating

I'm told that a certain birthday girl wants a crown of her very own. Pink. Of course. She says she's going to be a "Birthday Princess" for Halloween and since that is, indeed, true, and she only gets to turn three on Halloween once in her lifetime, I suppose I'm going to bow to her ever-changing costume whims for as long as possible.

To live the liturgy:

The Holy Father's intention for this month: That the terminally ill may be supported by their faith in God and the love of their brothers and sisters. 

We have lived this well this month, up close and personal. And we continue to walk with the sorrowing.

Towards a Real Education

Katie and Karoline have a delightful new bedtime routine. Since Mary Beth is at dance until well past nine every night, I've been working on getting the three little girls settled all together, without Mary Beth's assistance. So, after the bath routine, Katie and Karoline choose ten picture books each. While I snuggle Sarah to sleep (and she might just nurse a little--don't judge), Katie reads to Karoline. If they're still awake once Sarah's asleep, I take over the reading. That's a whole bunch of reading!

Towards Rhythm and Beauty

{We hit a rhythm last week and I'm going to cling to it for all its worth. We are far more creative, productive, and happy once the rhythm has been worked out and life--however busy--is more predictable.}

I wrote that last Monday. Rachael's dad died Tuesday morning. Last week's rhythm was not "routine," but there still was rhythm. I think that's a sign of an underlying structure that's going to work over the long haul. At least, I hopes so.

I am Hoping and Praying

for Rachael, her father, and their family and friends. I was blessed to be present at the most amazing funeral ever last Friday. And we were sent forth with quite a mission for prayer. We also all left that church wanting to live for Christ and in Christ; I can't think of a greater tribute to Greg Davenport's life.

 I am learning

to make a little quilted playmat. When Sarah Annie was discharged from the NICU, we were invited to choose from a large collection of beautiful handmade blankets for her to bring home. I was so touched by the gesture that, as a family, we've resolved to donate a handmade blanket every year on Sarah's birthday. Nicky and I have a really good one going here, thanks to this tutorial.

Around the House

We've got some picking up to do before Bible Study this afternoon. Katie and Karoline got into the autumn decorating box and happily sprinkled seasonal cheer here and there. I am hoping to dip leaves this week. I think they might actually be dry enough at last.

From the Kitchen 

A big pot of chili today.

On my iPod:

Amy Grant older and newer. I've promised my kids Scotty McCreery, but I'm reserving it to use as a bribe motivation to clean.

One of My Favorite Things

new fabric and the promise of an old friend to help me make something of it.

On the Calendar for the Week

I'm just a little torn between insisting on a week of solid school days with no interruptions and the call of the beautiful days to go out and play. Skyline Drive, maybe? 

Worth a Thousand Words

 
 
{tickle party}

It's a little fuzzy but the memory still makes me giggle.

My heartfelt prayers for you all this week.

Daybook: Give the Best

Outside My Window

A bright beautiful day. We're soaking in the sunshine while we can. There is a prediction for an incho or more of rain on Wednesday.

I am Listening to

waffle making in the kitchen. Nick's in charge. It's his narration of this version of The Three Little Pigs.

I am Wearing

pajamas. And it's nearly noon. Go me.

I am so Grateful for

a peaceful weekend; beautiful girls from our dance studio who are ministering to one another in a time of sorrow with admirable tenderness and grace.

I'm Pondering

Give the best you have received from the past

to the  best that you may come to know in the future.

Accept life daily not as a cup to be drained

but as a chalice to be filled

with whatsoever things are honest, pure, lovely and of good report.

Making a living is best undertaken as a part

of the more important business of making a life.

Every now and again take a good look at something not made with hands --

a mountain, a star, the turn of a stream.

There will come to you wisdom and patience and solace and, above all,

the assurance that you are not alone in the world.

~Sidney Lovett~

I am Reading

Becoming More than a Good Bible Study Girl

I am Thinking

about what a gift good health is.

I am Creating

I ordered everything I need for a quilt top. Just waiting for it get here.

To live the liturgy:

The Holy Father's intention for this month: That the terminally ill may be supported by their faith in God and the love of their brothers and sisters. We are living this day by day, hour by hour, as we wait for one of the "dance dads" to go home to Jesus.

Towards a Real Education

It's a public school holiday today. It's not an "our school" holiday. 'Nuff said.

Towards Rhythm and Beauty

We hit a rhythm last week and I'm going to cling to it for all its worth. We are far more creative, productive, and happy once the rhythm has been worked out and life--however busy--is more predictable.

I am Hoping and Praying

for Rachael, her father, and their family and friends. 

 I am learning

well...I was about ready to embark on a furniture painting project, but Mike thinks that the chairs in question aren't well-built enough to merit the investment of new fabric and paint. So, we'll just have to see where that all shakes out. In the meantime, I've been reading  furniture painting tutorials. 

Around the House

It's clean. Really clean. And "the help" didn't clean it. We asked a young woman to come help us clean one day a couple weeks ago. It took her an hour and a half to fold four loads of laundry. Then, she went up to my room. Six hours later, it was time for her to go. My bathroom was mostly clean (except the trashcan wasn't emptied). My bedroom was sort of clean (except for the dust bunnies under the bed and the sheets that weren't changed). Six hours??? It wasn't that dirty; trust me. I randomly asked children who went up there during the day what she had been doing when they saw her. To a man, they all answered texting. It was suggested that perhaps I didn't supervise closely enough.

Here's the thing about that: If I have to supervise the help to keep her on task and make sure she's not texting, I have plenty of that help under my roof. And I don't have to pay them. So much for help.

I cleaned like crazy last week. It's clean.

From the Kitchen 

An autmn menu. I'm thinking about sharing the whole week of recipes, a day at a time, here on the blog. Is that a good idea?

On my iPod:

Mindy Gledhill.

One of My Favorite Things

planting pansies. Tomorrow, I think.

On the Calendar for the Week

Some serious yardwork tomorrow. Weeds are out of control. This rain has really been a boon to overgrowth. And then, bulbs and pansies in the ground.

A local meeting with faraway friends who are here to visit on Wednesday. We'd hoped for breakfast at Bull Run. But rain is predicted.

I have a sense there will be a funeral to attend late in the week.

Fabric on the way. I'm hoping to make curtains for the sewing room and begin that quilt this weekend.

Worth a Thousand Words

 

A totally uncropped, unedited Blackberry picture of Stephen with his trophy after winning a tournament in Philadelphia last weekend. They were outside a kind of cruddy, sort of greasy, utterly delicious Philly Cheesesteak place. Not the best photo ever, but it's all I've got and I'm so out of time!

My heartfelt prayers for you all this week.

October Afternoon Daybook

Outside My Window

Cool, gray baking kind of day. Again:-) No kidding. We have had days and days of cool and gray and rainy. It definitely feels like autumn. 

I am Listening to

all my girls baking in the kitchen. I'm far away from the flour dust, but not so far that I can't enjoy listening in on their cupcake adventures.

I am Wearing

jeans, a tshirt, and a big, red, cotton sweater. Big, heavy socks.  Oh my, it's going to be a long, cold winter. 

I am so Grateful for

good friends who make the lives of my children so much richer and so much kinder when life knocks them around.

I'm Pondering

"If I did not simply suffer from one moment to another, it would be impossible for me to be patient; but I look only at the present moment forget the past; and I take good care not to forestall the future. When we yield to discouragement or despair it is usually because we give too much thought to the past and to the future."—St. Therese of Lisieux

I am Reading

The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains, at the suggestion of Tonia, who recommended it while we were discussing all things internet on Facebook last week.

I am Thinking

About Christmas lists. I want to make and make and make. I need to think how much is truly feasible. 

I am Creating

birthday surprises. I spent today making a fabric crown for tomorrow's birthday girl. Pretty darn cute.

To live the liturgy:

I love this time of year, as the feasts of special saints mingle with the celebrations of of the births of many of my children. We just celebrated the feast of St. Matthew (Matthew Christian's name day) and the feast of Padre Pio (the day Sarah was nearly born at 28 weeks). Now, we will march onward to St. Michael (and Michael's birthday--September 29), St. Jerome (and Katie's birthday--September 30), St. Therese (October 1), the feast of the Guardian Angels (and Patrick's birthday-October 2), the feast of St. Francis (and Karoline's birthday--October 4th). 

Towards a Real Education

I had a chat with some friends the other night and pondered the theoretical question of what Real Learning would read like if I wrote it now instead of ten years ago. I didn't really come to any conclusions except that I would never attempt to write a book like that now. Not exactly sure what that means. Maybe, as Mary deTurris Poust observed recently, I just seem to need more quiet. Or, maybe, I just know that there'd be so much to add that the mere thought of it makes me tremble.

Or maybe it's a little of both.

Towards Rhythm and Beauty

About how to tinker a bit with our schedules. We no longer have naps to consider and we don't have to be home on a school schedule . We're going to go apple picking and meander on the way home. We're going downtown--a lot-- and finally soak in the educational treasure that living in the DC suburbs affords us. We're going to embrace this new season.

I am Hoping and Praying

for peace of heart. 

 I am learning

to quilt. Nicky asked me to hurry up already. He's cold in the family room in the morning. How hard is it to back with fleece? Super slippery? Any tips? 

Around the House

Birthday decorations.

The original plan was for Paddy to be out of town for his birthday, playing in Columbus. That game was canceled late Friday. With fewer than 48 hours to plan and decorate and cook, Mary Beth threw together a little shindig for him--just a handful of friends after soccer and a rousing game of FIFA 2012. Oh, and a cake made entirely of Swiss Rolls and chocolate ganache. And he really was surprised. Karoline was so tickled with the decorations that she's insisted we leave them up for tomorrow--her birthday.

From the Kitchen 

I'm thinking sugar free (and honey free) pumpkin latte, maybe?

On my iPod:

my mail. In an effort not to get sucked into my computer during the day, I'm only checking mail on my iPod at two set times a day. 

One of My Favorite Things

Snuggling sweet girls to sleep.

A Few Plans for the Week

Karoline's birthday tomorrow and a visit from our friends from the Cabbage Patch.

Sushi lunch with Katie and Karoline to celebrate their birthdays. 

Apple picking again. I promised Nick we'd return when the Granny Smiths are ready. Boots will not be optional.

The boys have soccer in Pennsylvania this weekend. Nutcracker rehearsals continue here. 

Is Every Day a Birthday?

Outside My Window

Cool, gray baking kind of day. Again:-)

I am Listening to

quiet. It is early morning and the house is nearly silent.

I am Wearing

Not my phone. I usually keep my cell phone in my pocket. Last Friday, it wiggled its way out, unbeknownst to me. I think we got two inches of rain on Friday, while my cell phone waited in the grass for me to notice I was without it. Karoline found it after the rain stopped. Poor phone. So, I'm currently on a cell phone fast.

I am so Grateful for

 sharing hearts with Julie in my sewing room.

I'm Pondering

For of all the utter falsehoods, the most false, I think, is this notion that men can be happy in movement, when nothing but dullness drives them on from behind. . . . [If ] ever there was a whisper that might truly come from the devil, it is the suggestion that men can despise the beautiful things they have got, and only delight in getting new things because they have not got them. It is obvious that, on that principle, Adam will tire of the tree just as he has tired of the garden. G.K. Chesterton

I am Reading

The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains, at the suggestion of Tonia, who recommended it while we were discussing all things internet on Facebook last week.

I am Thinking

About this post and the full article linked there. While I agree with all his observations and premises, I don't agree with his ideas for solutions. I admit that I couldn't even discern if they were all hyperbole or not. But I am devoting a great deal of thought and prayer to my own life with electonics and how I want it to be. One thing is certain, I don't want it to be the way it is.

I'm thinking that life is short, surprisingly so, and that we will be held accountable for every moment we've been granted to live, every gift we've been given. Accounting aside, when you sit in a doctor's office and look at the shadow that should not be there on a radiology report, your first (or second or third) thought is not "I wish I'd spent more time surfing" or even "how am I going to blog this." 

I want to live my life intentionally with the blessings of my first thought.

I am Creating

birthday surprises. Shhh...

I'm thinking birthday crowns (not the wool felt kind) and twirly skirts... (But not for Michael and Paddy)

 

To live the liturgy:

I love this time of year, as the feasts of special saints mingle with the celebrations of of the births of many of my children. We just celebrated the feast of St. Matthew (Matthew Christian's name day) and the feast of Padre Pio (the day Sarah was nearly born at 28 weeks). Now, we will march onward to St. Michael (and Michael's birthday--September 29), St. Jerome (and Katie's birthday--September 30), St. Therese (October 1), the feast of the Guardian Angels (and Patrick's birthday-October 2), the feast of St. Francis (and Karoline's birthday--October 4th). 

Towards a Real Education

We added the final component to our slow ramp-up of a full-blown school schedule yesterday as another family joined us for Bible study. We all read together and talked a bit, then the little ones worked on a craft while the big ones discussed things more deeply. Conversation was so lively that we never got to the planned picture study before it was time to go. These teenagers are going to keep things interesting all year. I'm sure of that.

 

Towards Rhythm and Beauty

Sigh. Every September, the rhythm is rocky as we try to settle into all the activities we've chosen for the children. I have long adopted the attitude that if I trust it all to prayer, it will all work out. And it always does. This year, it's taking a very long time and we keep hitting bump after bump. The logistics of it all is overwhelming. But we're getting there. Literally.

I am Hoping and Praying

For two dear girls who are learning to trust that God has a plan and His plan is always good--and for all the people who love them and their parents. I really hate cancer all the time--this week has been particularly awful. 

 I am learning

to use GQueues. My friend Ann sent me the link. It was in my box on a day when I'd just finished entering every book we owned (so it seemed) into the Charlotte Mason Organizer. I took a quick look and sent the link to my friend Linda. I thought it would be perfect for Linda, but I doubted she would pursue because Linda is mostly unplugged when it comes to online anything. She's one of my best friends, but she doesn't even read my blog because she recognizes that she can easily get sucked into a huge time-waster here. Anyway, Linda thinks GQueues is amazing. She came to Stephen's soccer game on Sunday to tell me all about how awesome it is. I think that if Ann and Linda both sing its praises, it's probably worth my investment of time. 

Around the House

I am stymied by the sheer volume of laundry.

I am also well on my way to getting help, at the urging of my sister and several in-real-life women friends who are as smart and beautiful as Rachel is and who get help:-). I wonder? Does getting help make one smart and beautiful? 

From the Kitchen 

Well, there will be birthday cake. Lots of it. Four birthday cakes between now and next Tuesday. What's your favorite cake? 

Have I mentioned that I don't eat wheat and have sworn off sugar? In all seriousness, if you have a prayer to send on my behalf, I have no plan to forego making and decorating cakes for my kids, but I can't eat them. I'm working so hard to get back on track after the latst thyroid slip--there's no wiggle room for random wheat mistakes. Pray this all goes well, please?

 

On my iPod:

Jack Johnson I love this album. It's one of the reasons I don't understand why the author of the article I mentioned above thinks we should get rid of iTunes. Is he opposed to music altogether? Or is he just a big fan of CDs that get scratched and lost and broken?

One of My Favorite Things

Soccer friends who make weekends schlepping all over northern Virginia and the far reaches of Marlyand a fun family adventure.

A Few Plans for the Week

Ballet, birthdays, soccer, birthdays, more ballet, more soccer, more birthdays.

Picture thoughts: