Gathering My Thoughts

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I find myself:

::noticing God's glory

It's eighty degrees today! And perfectly beautiful. Now it's easy to believe that really, truly it will be spring. Kristin rallied the troops yesterday and we all got out and started weeding. They did a huge job. The front bed looks nice and tidy and I'm eagerly awaiting the appearance of tulips. Now, I'm looking forward to doing some planning. And some planting:-)

::listening to 

Crazy ridiculous noise in the dance studio. There is jazzercise in one studio and four-year-olds tap dancing in another and a crowded lobby full of moms and dads and siblings. This was the only window I could find to write. My girls think it can't be done. We shall see.

::clothing myself in 

Khakis and a linen shirt with a lightweight sweater. Bliss.

::talking with my children about these books

Karoline had a major burst into chapter books in the past week. Chapter books! We are having some serious fun getting to know Junie B. 

::thinking and thinking

About renewal . I had a nice, long talk with Aimee and we've got it all figured out ;-).

::pondering prayerfully

from CNS

Pope Francis preached about the Gospel story from St. Luke about the two disappointed disciples on the road to Emmaus after the death of Jesus.

“They were afraid. All of the disciples were afraid,” he said. As they walked toward Emmaus and discussed everything that had happened, they were sad and complaining.

“And the more they complained, the more they were closed in on themselves: They did not have a horizon before them, only a wall,” the pope said, according to Vatican Radio.

The disciples had had such high hopes that Jesus would be the one who would redeem Israel, but they thought their hopes were destroyed, he said.

“And they stewed, so to speak, their lives in the juice of their complaints and kept going on and on and on with the complaining,” the pope said. “I think that many times when difficult things happen, including when we are visited by the cross, we run the risk of closing ourselves off in complaints.”

When all people can think of is how wrong things are going, Pope Francis said, the Lord is close, “but we don’t recognize him. He walks with us, but we don’t recognize him.”

Like the disciples joined by the risen Lord on the road to Emmaus, people can hear beautiful things, but deep down, they continue to be afraid, the pope said.

“Complaining seems safer. It’s something certain. This is my truth: failure,” he said.

But the Gospel story shows how very patient Jesus is with the disciples, first listening to them and then explaining things step by step, until they see him.

“Jesus does this with us, too,” the pope said. “Even in the darkest moments, he is always with us, walking with us.”

Complaining and griping — about others and about things in one’s own life — is harmful “because it dashes hope. Don’t get into this game of a life of complaints,” he said.

::carefully cultivating rhythm

I have resigned myself to the fact that, for the remainder of soccer season, my gym time will be limited to two super early mornings a week. And I've worked out a way to work out at that same time at home on the off-gym days. There is peace in that. 

I've also come to some big conclusions about online time, particularly time on a Facebook feed or browing Instagram or clicking Pinterest. I have a life I want to live. I have a vision and I like to be itentional. Actually, it's really, really important to me to be intentional. Sometimes--often--I think the lives we want are ours for the taking, but attaining them is hindered by the clutter of the lives we see on screens and the room they take up in our brains. What if I limited myself to five or ten minutes each on Facebook and Instagram every day during the week? Just long enough to check in and offer a word of encouragement or see if someone is wanting to talk to me about something in particular? And what if I refrained from social media altogether on the weekends? Then, what if I chose only five blogs to read regularly? The others will be there for the rainy afternoon of binge reading or if there is something in particular I'm seeking. And Pinterest? It's a great filing system and a good place to go if I have a specific question. Otherwise, I recognize how important it is for me to keep it on the outer margins.

I love the Internet. I appreciate it so very much. There are countless ways it's made my life easier and enriched it with friendships. But I love the look on my child's face when I click the computer closed even more.

::creating by hand

Mostly, we're all about altering dance costumes this week. Competitions begin on Saturday. After a rough beginning, I'm learning to love like Velcro.

::learning lessons in

asking for help.

::encouraging learning 

There will be a decided shift in the next few weeks. We've wrapped up our writing courses for the year. I'm going to hyperfocus on math and nature study. We're heading to the woods with our sketchbooks soon. Can't wait!

::begging prayers

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

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

::keeping house

Spring sunshine is casting light on the dust. I'm totally up for some spring cleaning.

::crafting in the kitchen 

Kristin's birthday is this weekend. Per family tradition, she gets to pick dinner. But the cake? Oh, the cake is all about the girlies and creating and crafting in the kitchen.

Also, we had a great Facebook conversation about grocery bills and how to plan and budget. God willing, I'll bring that conversation here this week.

And I'm pondering treats for the trail, or in this case, for the dance competition. I'm going to pack and go with the girls this weekend. What do you like to pack in "lunchboxes?"

::loving the moments

when I find myself in an old, familiar place, decades later, and smile to myself because really, it all worked out very well. We went to Charlottesville for Friday night and Saturday. It was beautiful and so, so much fun to watch Paddy play and to take my little girls on a walking tour of "back when Mommy was Paddy's age." I wish I could have stayed longer. There's no place quite like Charlottesville in the springtime...

::giving thanks 

for sunshine.

living the liturgy

We're focusing on Divine Mercy.

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

::planning for the week ahead

Big deep breaths. I worked hard on sketching out all the commitments, hopes, plans, meals, chores... I feel better for just having put it all on paper. Now, to make it all work and not lose my peace. 

Instagram recap:

Gathering my Thoughts

{{I got a new camera the day before Easter. I haven't clicked it once, yet, but Mary Beth played with it yesterday. All pictures above are hers and are entirely unedited.}}

I find myself:

::noticing God's glory

My garden is overrun with weeds all of a sudden. I am hopeful that warm weather this week will beckon us outdoors to make it all tidy.

::listening to 

birds chirping. And chirping and chirping. I awoke to that sound. Seems appropriate for Easter Monday.

::clothing myself in 

Christmas pajamas and a UVa sweatshirt. I was cold last night. Whatever works, right?

::talking with my children about these books

I chose three of the girls' favorite books for their Easter baskets. These were books that they couldn't bear to return to the library.

For Karoline, it was Mossy. This is the first full book she's read all by herself. It's lovely. I am very fond of Jan Brett's books and this one is my favorite. Karoline told Kristin yesterday that "It's a nature story, but it's a love story. And there's drawing in it, too." What more can you ask for? And what does it say about my girls that they get all starry-eyed and romantic over a love story about turtles?

For Sarah, I chose Cinderella. This version is a 1955 Caldecott winner. The language is rich and nourishing. (For instance I had to explain that the "haughtiest woman" was not the "hottiest woman." My little girls live with five big brothers. That's all I can offer by way of explaining that confusion.) Sarah absolutely loves this book and much prefers this version to the Disney version, though she is definitely campaigning for this video. She likes the songs. Hard to argue with that.

For Katie, I got The Penderwicks. This book is Mary Beth's all-time favorite book. Her copy is the original paperback. And it's falling apart. When she saw that it had been republished in a beautiful, hardbound deckle edge version, she begged one for Katie. As I write though, I'm wondering why I didn't get two. Mary Beth has often said that this series is one she wants to keep forever. Hmmm...

::thinking and thinking

About renewal and Lent and how it all played out this year.

::pondering prayerfully

So this is the invitation which I address to everyone: Let us accept the grace of Christ’s Resurrection! Let us be renewed by God’s mercy, let us be loved by Jesus, let us enable the power of his love to transform our lives too; and let us become agents of this mercy, channels through which God can water the earth, protect all creation and make justice and peace flourish. ~~ Pope Francis

::carefully cultivating rhythm

I have no rhythm. I've been trying to find it the entire school year. First, there were renovations (of home and heart) and wedding planning. Then, advent and a wedding. Then we worked the gym into the winter rhythm and didn't drop anything else. We have had two bouts of the flu. (The kind that tests positive in the doctor's office. Thank the Lord for Tamiflu.) There was college kid spring break that didn't coincide with my planned spring break. Then there was neighborhood kid spring break; again, not with my spring break. And now it's nearly Bluebell Week, which actually is my spring break. 

There is one common thread. With every wave of rhythm disruption, I've dropped more time in front of the screen. There is only one social media app on my phone and I'm flirting with the idea of dropping Instagram, too, except I do really like it. My Facebook time is nearly nil and after a brief little foray into conversation yesterday, I'm remembering why I've so drastically reduced it. Ain't nobody got time for that.

I like to blog, though. I like to have a pretty place to capture memories and think thoughts. However, with screen time super scarce, I find myself rarely reading blogs. I check in a few times a week and read blogs of good friends and that's about it. And I wonder, can one have a place in a blogging community if she rarely communes? I've never been very good at hanging out with the cool kids. I don't really like a crowd. It's taken me a long time to recognize that one can easily place herself in a crowd online, without even really recognizing it, until suddenly she's overwhelmed by the voices. I remember Amy Welborn once wondered aloud about introverts and homeschooling. She really got me thinking. At the time, I think I had eight children and they were all at home all day long. It had never occured to me that the people in my own house were ruffling my introverted feathers. But her musing raised my consciousness. Now, I wonder, is there a place online for those of us who are Quiet? And if a house full of children are zapping an introvert's energy, can she possibly allow herself to get online and expose herself to more noise?  How does that work into what is preferably a quiet rhythm?

::creating by hand

Easter dresses. More on those on Thursday. And an unfinished Tiny Tea Leaves sweater, one that would have been just perfect for Katie yesterday, but didn't get finished. More on that, too, no doubt.

::learning lessons in

Food. For real. Heather’s class has me thinking and re-thinking. I’m definitely tweaking hard.  I tend to learn by total immersion and I’ve been reading incessantly. The problem is that reading about whole foods is always about two clicks away from reading about cancer. And reading about cancer is about a click from reading about late effects of chemo and radiation. And that's a really bad rabbit trail for me to travel. One can overthink food. I just did. 

::encouraging learning 

A happy not-spring-break learning lovely: Mary Beth's friend Morgan hung out around our house during the public high school's spring break last week. She gathered everyone into an impromptu reading/production of "Midsummer Night's Dream." The boys and even the littlest girls were all into the story together.  Love it when things like that happen.

There will be a decided shift in the next few weeks. We've wrapped up our writing courses for the year. I'm going to hyperfocus on math and nature study. My kids will be thrilled about the latter. The former? Recently overheard from the "magic" corner of the sunroom, where the dollhouse and fairy treehouse live: "And then my father died and the evil stepmother made me do math!"

Prevailing sentiment not withstanding, I have a math plan.

::begging prayers

For the repose of the soul of Kristin's grandfather.  Also, of my friend Katherine's grandmother, who died yesterday. May the peace of the resurrection comfort those who grieve.

::keeping house

The Triddum found me filling prescriptions for Tamiflu, racing to get BIG buckets to put under the gaping hole in the living room ceiling, answering a frantic early morning phone call when my father-in-love hit a deer in the dark, sending my best help off on a trip to Pittsburgh to see Paddy play (Mike and his dad, Mary Beth driving!), amazing seats at the Elite Eight (not me, two lucky boys), driving back and forth to every Triduum service so that healthy boys could serve, trying to finish that sweater, and shopping and cooking for dinner for twenty. None of it was as I pictured. I fell exhausted into bed last night, but I learned that there really is a rather wide, forgiving margin for imperfection when it comes to celebrating holidays. Who knew?

::crafting in the kitchen 

Leftovers. Oh, how we have leftovers! I will reinvent Easter dinner for a week. (Oh, and there were some memorable chocolate mustaches;-)

::loving the moments

when we fill the whole pew at church, but only because the "overflow" is serving at the altar and Sarah is asleep on Mike's lap, otherwise, we'd need to spill into another row.

::giving thanks 

for sunshine.

living the liturgy

We're focusing on Divine Mercy.

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

::planning for the week ahead

Ballet and soccer are in full swing. The driving demands do not all fit. They just don't. My first task today is to figure out a way to get everyone where he or she needs to be. And then, I need to find a way to be sure that I work out, too. And to find time to write. And now we're back to that rhythm thing again. My plan is to go outside and weed the garden and talk to God about it all and hope He answers loudly. 

Instagram recap:

Gathering my thoughts on a Friday

I find myself:

::noticing God's glory

The geese are back. And they brought their friends and family. Seems like there are geese everywhere.

::listening to 

the radio. I’m in the car, in the parking lot, at soccer. There’s no wi-fi, but I just don’t have enough time to go find some. Traffic would suck it all up. So, I’ll just sit and compose in Word. Keeps me from mindless surfing anyway.

::clothing myself in 

Jeans, a pink and cream colored blouse, pick cashmere socks a la Elizabeth DeHority, and a sweater with some wool content. Cold again.

::talking with my children about these books

Mossy. Have you read it? I think it’s my new favorite Jan Brett book. My girls cheered out loud when we got to the end.

And some books for Lent.

I did a little switch in my Lenten reading aloud with the children. Fr. Taylor gave a homily last week about Gilligan’s Island (well, not really about it, but Gilligan was in there). Did you know that the creator said that he modeled each character after one of the seven deadly sins? Anyway, something he said brought to mind The Hidden Power of Kindness. I’ve long loved this book and read it aloud to my big kids, but it’s been a long time. The others are mostly old enough for it now, so that’s what we’re reading.

I’m still reading Consoling the Heart of Jesus, but it might take us all of the Easter season. (I wish he'd do an Audible version of this one)

::thinking and thinking

About renewal and Lent.

::pondering prayerfully

We are in the Year of Faith, which I desired in order to strengthen our own faith in God in a context that seems to push faith more and more toward the margins of life. I would like to invite everyone to renew firm trust in the Lord. I would like that we all, entrust ourselves as children to the arms of God, and rest assured that those arms support us and us to walk every day, even in times of struggle. I would like everyone to feel loved by the God who gave His Son for us and showed us His boundless love. I want everyone to feel the joy of being Christian. In a beautiful prayer to be recited daily in the morning says, “I adore you, my God, I love you with all my heart. I thank You for having created me, for having made me a Christian.” Yes, we are happy for the gift of faith: it is the most precious good, that no one can take from us! Let us thank God for this every day, with prayer and with a coherent Christian life. God loves us, but He also expects that we love Him! ~Benedict XVI Full text here

::carefully cultivating rhythm

As the season changes, I hear the breeze calling us outside. Soon, very soon, the rhythm will change again.

::creating by hand

A little ensemble for our friend Katie—a popover sundress for her and one for her doll to go with her own copy of Crafty Chloe.

::learning lessons in

Food. For real. Heather’s class has me thinking and re-thinking. I’m definitely tweaking hard. Maybe I can’t even call it tweaking as it is a bit of an overhaul. I tend to learn by total immersion and I’ve been reading incessantly. I thank God for Katherine, who patiently listens to every angle and gently encourages. I’m pretty sure I’m driving her crazy, but she’s a good soul.

::encouraging learning 

I'm feeling a bit of midyear pressure. I really, really want to finish the year's math for everyone. We might need to double-time math for the next few months.

::begging prayers

for all the intentions of our prayer community.  

::keeping house

my house is going to be absolutely clean by next Friday. We are going to Charlottesville to watch Paddy play and then bringing him home for spring break. Why I think I need to clean for Patrick is beyond me. He left his room a wreck. He doesn’t notice clean or dirty. I used to do this when Michael was coming home, too. Just seems like home should look and smell good, you know?

::crafting in the kitchen 

I made a yummy noodle and veggie salad to share with you next week. Oh, and Mary Beth says everything has been curried lately and she might be right. Have you heard about the healing properties of turmeric?

But maybe not every night.

::loving the moments

when I linger long in the little girls’ bed at bedtime because they want one more book. And I do, too.

::giving thanks 

for a new library. I took a lot of pictures. Wait ‘til you see.

living the liturgy

With the universal Church, we are praying and praying for the conclave..

::planning for the week ahead

This weekend is an utterly impossible collision of a basketball championship, two soccer tournaments and dance auditions. I seriously have no idea how I’m going to do it. Next week should be a little less crazy and I’m looking very forward to a trip “home” to Charlottesville to overnight with my Dad and Barbara and see Paddy play his first collegiate game.

Gathering my Thoughts

I find myself:

::noticing God's glory

I slept in the girls' room last night because Mike is sick. I awoke before the alarm as the room filled with pink light. The sunrise was so stunning I woke Karoline, because she's a big fan of sunrises. It was well worth it.

::listening to 

Kari humming to her cereal.  

::clothing myself in 

A tshirt and yoga pants. There's a morning class I'm very eager to take today. 

::talking with my children about these books

some of our favorite books by and about the Pope:

Lolek, The Boy Who Became Pope. (my favorite)

Joseph and Chico 

Max and Benedict

Be Saints

Friendship with Jesus

And some books for Lent.

With the bigger kids, I plan to use Consoling the Heart of Jesus again this year. I cannot say enough good things about this book. It's life-changing. I read it last year, on an unexpected and unusual "retreat," and I shared these thoughts:

I spent Holy Week reading Consoling the Heart of Jesus. There are a small handful of books in my life where I remember exactly where and when I read them because those times and places are turning points. This book is one of those. It is easily at the top of that list. This incredibly readable volume makes some of the most beautiful truths and devotions of the Catholic faith understandable (at last)  and accessible (even to busy mothers of large families).  Fr. Gaitley brings together fine threads of several spiritual traditions and weaves them into a beautiful and exceedingly useful tapestry of a do-it-yourself retreat. It is Ignatian spirituality made accessible. It is the Little Way of St. Therese for all of us. It is consecration to Mary and devotion to Divine Mercy explained in plain language and made clear to little souls. Mostly, it is a rich volume of Merciful Words that brings Merciful Love to its readers. You don't have to have a weekend to make the retreat. You can just read a little each day until you are finished. If it's your heart's desire to get to know and understand Jesus better, tell Him.

I'm so looking forward to re-reading this book this year.

::thinking and thinking

About renewal and Lent.

::pondering prayerfully

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered; Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, People may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, They may be jealous; Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;

It was never between you and them anyway. 

(This is an adaptation of the Paradoxical Commandments by Dr. Kent M. Keith, adapted by Blessed Mother Teresa)

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::carefully cultivating rhythm

Woohoo! Yet another new rhythm this week. This one's a keeper. As I posed in a compromising position on my mat at the gym on Sunday afternoon, the instructor stood over me and offered, "I know you. We're friends on Facebook." Turns out she's a homeschooling mama of many and she teaches some morning classes and brings her kids. This could be just perfect.

::creating by hand

More prayer journal covers. And Easter dresses. I'm still in the trace-the-pattern-stage, but I hope to have something to show on Thursday

::learning lessons in

Listening well. I've found that often God has Lent planned for me; I just need to tune in. In the past week the little girls all had a stomach bug, three or four of us had colds, then the middle kids got the stomach thing, Stephen sprained his ankle, then Mike got the stomach thing... Lent began with disruptions of my plans, Valentine's Day was pitiful, and I had plenty of opportunity to think about what God might have in mind--while I folded mountains of laundry.  

::encouraging learning 

I'm feeling a bit of midyear pressure. I really, really want to finish the year's math for everyone. We might need to double-time math for the next few months.

::a little link for you to click ASAP

Please, please, please, check in here and see what the folks at Give Bracelets are up to. They need your help feeding orphans. And if you can't actually give right now, register for the huge GIVEAWAY and help spread the word. Usually the GIVE giveaways are enormously popular. This one is kind of fizzling and I'm concerned.

::begging prayers

for all the intentions of our prayer community.  

::keeping house

I absolutely blitzed through the pantry last week and cleaned and organized. Now, I just want to stand there and look at it.

::crafting in the kitchen 

I have begun Heather's workshop. The virtual classroom space is beautiful. Of course it is; everything Heather touches is beautiful. Mary Beth is taking the class with me and most of our "discussion component" is with my friend Katherine in Texas and her two girls. I've been adding grains and legumes back into my diet, very slowly. The jury is still out. I'd really like to have a more plant-based foundation. Paleo is counter-intuitive to me. But I'm very respectful of a plant's potential for inflammation and paleo has taught me that there absolutely are certain things I cannot eat. In the meantime, I'm really loving playing in my kitchen and at grocery stores again, so that's a very good thing.

Oh, and I discovered homemade almond milk. I will never miss dairy again. Ever. Ever.

::loving the moments

when friends share big news and you dream babies all night long.

::giving thanks 

for daughters-in-love who try to rescue Valentine's Day with a care package of kombucha, gluten-free cookies, organic chocolate, and a bottle of gummy vitamins. She knows where to shop to fill my tank.

living the liturgy

We definitely didn't do all the right things on all the right days last week. There are mantel letters to replace, a crown of thorns yet to make, an Alleluia to hide, and more journal covers to make so we can record our gifts. God's got a plan for us this Lent. I'm letting Him lead.

::planning for the week ahead

Basketball playoffs this weekend and dance doings, too. I just want everyone healthy.

Gathering my Thoughts

I find myself:

::noticing God's glory

 The light in the morning comes earlier every day. I don't think I've ever appreciated it so much as this year. Sunshine is a beautiful thing.

::listening to 

Fox News. I need a visual on the Pope's announcement.  

::clothing myself in 

A UVa sweatshirt. Just reminding myself to redouble the prayer effort for my student. 

::talking with my children about these books

Well...I guess it's time to pull out some of our favorite books by and about the Pope.

Lolek, The Boy Who Became Pope. (my favorite)

Joseph and Chico 

Max and Benedict

Be Saints

Friendship with Jesus

::thinking and thinking

 About the Pope.

::pondering prayerfully

 On the days of Lent, from morning until the end of the third hour let them apply themselves to their reading, and from then until the end of the tenth hour let them do the work assigned them.  And in these days of Lent they shall each receive a book from the library, which they shall read straight through from the beginning. These books are to be given out at the beginning of Lent. ~from The Rule of St. Benedict

I plan to use Consoling the Heart of Jesus again this year. I cannot say enough good things about this book. It's life-changing. I read it last year, on an unexpected and unusual "retreat," and I shared these thoughts:

I spent Holy Week reading Consoling the Heart of Jesus. There are a small handful of books in my life where I remember exactly where and when I read them because those times and places are turning points. This book is one of those. It is easily at the top of that list. This incredibly readable volume makes some of the most beautiful truths and devotions of the Catholic faith understandable (at last)  and accessible (even to busy mothers of large families).  Fr. Gaitley brings together fine threads of several spiritual traditions and weaves them into a beautiful and exceedingly useful tapestry of a do-it-yourself retreat. It is Ignatian spirituality made accessible. It is the Little Way of St. Therese for all of us. It is consecration to Mary and devotion to Divine Mercy explained in plain language and made clear to little souls. Mostly, it is a rich volume of Merciful Words that brings Merciful Love to its readers. You don't have to have a weekend to make the retreat. You can just read a little each day until you are finished. If it's your heart's desire to get to know and understand Jesus better, tell Him.

I'm so looking forward to re-reading this book this year.

::carefully cultivating rhythm

I'm moving my gym time to the early morning, setting a rhythm that will sustain me through soccer season. Not sure where I'm moving my blogging time. I do hope, though, tht since I won't be out of the house during the school day, I'll be able to find the sewing time again.

::creating by hand

More prayer journal covers.

::learning lessons in

The papacy. It's time to study anew the conclaves prior to the one coming in March, to look at the lives of the popes past and the lives of current cardinals, to share how the pope becomes the pope. The last time a new pope was announced, my current eighth grader wasn't even reading yet. Let's begin to gather resources together. Please leave your ideas in today's comments. I'll start to pull things together for a post later this week. 

::encouraging learning 

I'm feeling a bit of midyear pressure. I really, really want to finish the year's math for everyone. We might need to double-time math for the next few months.

::a little link for you to click ASAP

Ginny's blog has been nomiated for Apartment Therapy's Homies Award for The Best Family and Home blog. It's a big deal and it is so nice to a blog with faith nominated for something like this award. So, people of faith, go vote! you have to register. it only takes a moment. Voting ends Wednesday, so hurry on over.

::begging prayers

for all the intentions of our prayer community.  

::keeping house

I have discovered that Stephen is not only the most diligent of all my students but the most reliable of all my chore-doers. Maybe I should promote him and have him train the little ones?

::crafting in the kitchen 

I'm so excited to begin Heather's workshop today. The virtual classroom space is beautiful. Of course it is; everything Heather touches is beautiful. We had a chance to meet other workshop attendees over the weekend and I'm just so tickled to get going. It's time to learn some new things and to sweep away some bad habits. I love that it will coincide with Lent. I intend to fully immerse Mary Beth in the workshop and to fill in here with some very intentional, hands-on grocery shopping lessons. I hope she'll have her driver's license by the end of those two months, as well. And she'll be all set to become the family's primary grocery shopper. And I have a hunch Kristin will join some of our cooking endeavors, too. She and some friends have been blogging food lately...

::loving the moments

When a Monday morning begins in a clean house, with all-caught-up laundry. Stephen, Katie, and I managed to make it so. Go us!

::giving thanks 

for the Church.

living the liturgy

This week is all about preparing for Lent. More thoughts here. I'm in a little bit of liturgical chaos this week. Valentine's Day falls on the day after Ash Wednesday. Mary Beth and I have decided that it's not going to work. Our plan is to celebrate Valentine's Day on Tuesday and somehow integrate it with Fat Tuesday. We always have waffles and sausage for dinner on Fat Tuesday. I think they'll look a little more valentine-y this year. And I've promised Katie she can make a cake like the one Jennifer shared during last week's needle & thREAD.

::planning for the week ahead

Lent begins. There will be a palpable shift in the demeanor of the household.

::about the photo

Lori found this picture last night and shared it with me on Facebook. It was in the background of a shot from the reception. It captures so perfectly for me the spirit of that day. I feel like I was just peaceful, happy and very much grateful to be celebrating with my family...