Morning Connection

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Loveliness_buttonThe theme for this week's Simply Lovely Fair is "Staying Connected." Sarah asks how we stay connected to our husbands amidst the busyness of everyday life. I bring my husband breakfast in bed every single day. This did not begin as an altruistic gesture or even a conscious effort at connection.   My husband awakens hungry every morning and he tends to be a grumpy hungry person. One big, hungry, grumpy person mixed in with several small hungry grumpy people, cups of orange juice, the morning paper, a dog who needs to go out, and eggs on the stove and well, it wasn't pretty. So, I resolved to take the big guy out of the picture. I got the kids settled with breakfast one morning and took a pretty tray up to my hubby. I sat there in our bedroom and gave him my apparently undivided attention while he ate breakfast. (I was still listening for sounds of chaos from downstairs.) And then, I did it again the next morning and the next and the next. When the baby was born, that became time to nurse and chat. And when she grew old enough to be interested in food, she sat on his lap and ate from his plate. Now, this is her routine and when he's out of town, she won't eat breakfast. The three of us have some time alone together. Sometimes, we just delight in how dear she is. Other times, we discuss important things well over her head. Whatever the case, we connect.

March_2008_025 I keep it fairly simple and the menu is usually the same: an English muffin, poached eggs, and a fruit smoothie. Occasionally, I add bacon or sausage. Every once in awhile, they enjoy leftover spaghetti carbonara or muffins from teatime the day before. But mostly, it's the same thing every day. I have the "making" routine down pat and everyone seems happy with the predictability. We begin our day together, in an oasis before the crush of craziness. Sometimes, other children wander in for a morning snuggle after they've eaten and increasingly, Karoline drifts away to play when she has had her fill of food. I remain (often stilling the small voice inside my head ticking off the items on my to-do list). And we begin the day together.

In Real Life

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January_2008_044Way back when the school year was still in the planning stages, Rebecca and I decided that we'd brainstorm together for "Tea and a Craft" ideas. We both agreed that we wanted the simplicity of a tea time and craft activity suitable to active boys and busy girls. And we both knew that Dawn's archives was a treasure trove of simple, yet meaningful afternoons throughout the liturgical year. So, we figured we'd start there and add and tweak as the year went along, bouncing ideas off each other and enjoying the synergy of friendship. We also knew that we wanted to add a good bit of beauty and, particularly, handicrafts, to our children's lives. So, those plans were "written in" as well (they were actually keyboarded and sent back and forth in endless emails and blogged a bit, too).
We've been sharing most of our learning plans, sending books back and forth between Virginia and Ohio for perusal, and chatting often on the phone. Rebecca's also been on an inspiring de-cluttering tear of late, and it's rubbed off a bit on me. With some other friends, we're talking about how to discern the  the best when you are surrounded by too much that is good, but not necessarily holy. And a dozen times a month or more, I'd have these planning conversations or clutter conversations or knitting conversations with Rebecca and I'd whine a little bit. "If only you were here, this would all be so much better!" And so, on a week that was destined to be gloomy (Michael went back to school and Mike left for the Super Bowl), God smiled on me and a minivan Gypsy Caravan pulled up at my house! We drank endless cups of tea and talked and talked and talked. Our children got to know one another. We sorted through my books and gathered bags and boxes of giveaways (aren't I the most gracious hostess?). We actually did one of those tea and craft ideas of Dawn's together! We made orange snowballs and had orange spiced tea in honor of Our Lady of Altagracia. All the children made pretty bookmarks with an orange theme and an image of Our Lady.In real life. Both of our families together in one place.
January_2008_045 And, wonder of wonder, Rebecca taught us to knit. I still don't know how to purl, but Mary Beth does and she has actually finished two washcloths since Rebecca's departure.
I am grateful for the internet. In the nine years since I've been online, I've met so many good people and learned so many good things. I am also painfully aware of the pitfalls of the internet. I know how limiting an online friendship can be and how necessary the human voice and--better yet--the human touch is for a true friendship of trust and understanding. Computers are such a gift and can be such a blessing for our families and the world of blogging and message boards can be a place of community and friendship. This is an unprecedented world, though, one where we tread a bit cautiously as we seek to understand the limitations and the pitfalls of relationships begun in cyberspace. I'm still new at this, but I think the key to true and deep friendships is that both parties are real. If blogs and emails are "the real deal" and phone calls and letters and packages reveal even more of the real person, then the in-real-life transition is not a surprise at all. Instead, it's a blessing and relief. At last, we are able to see and hear and touch all at the same time. And we can revel in the easy companionship of an in real life and forever friend.God bless Rebecca!

Snow days!

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January_2008_040We interrupt the regularly scheduled plan for a Snow Day (or two or three)! Yesterday, we had our first snowfall of the year--about 5 inches or so. Since this is Virginia and I can't count on a second snowfall of the year, I put all our regular plans on hold in order to "get real" in the snow. I think I love snow even more than some of my children (definitely more than my littlest, apparently). Must be those early years in New England--I find myself envying some people and their weather. Snow Days are extraordinary in my house. For one, they get capital letters on blog posts. And they get special foods--just like feast days.

January_2008_027 So, yesterday, as soon as an early morning phone call confirmed that it would indeed be a snow event (it helps when one's son has godfather who directs the early news--thanks Bill), I started making lists. First, the food list, so that Michael could make a quick dash to the store:

January_2008_038 Then, we gathered some snow books, not too many, but a few favorites:
My Brother Loved Snowflakes
Snowflake Bentley
The Snowy Day
Sugar Snow
The Mitten
The Three Snow Bears
Owl Moon

And one to memorize: Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Yesterday,  I just let them play (and eat and read a little). Today, we'll start to think about snow. We'll peruse the links below and scamper off down trails of interest. Reading and notebooking about snow is the order of the day (and  probably a few days next week). And we have company coming next week, too. So, the real life of weather and friends will push the Alphabet Path aside until the week after next. It will be there waiting for us when we have finished enjoying and learning from this unexpected gift of God.