In the Moment: This Day is Getting Away from Me

I find myself:

::noticing God's glory

I spent the whole day in the garden last Tuesday. The weather was perfect and I found that I actually enjoy pulling weeds. Who knew? Today, it's barely forty and I am not at all interested in getting out there. Hopefully, the weeds aren't either.

::listening to 

The washer washing and the dryer drying. Mondays are big catch-up days after busy weekends.

::clothing myself in 

Warm cashmere socks a la Elizabeth DeHority. It's so ridiculously cold after such a nice, mild winter.

::giving thanks for

a productive morning. Now, if I can just keep chugging on.

::talking with my children about these books

Since I'm going to share my own reading on Thursdays at needle and thREAD, I thought I'd share some reading from the children's choices.

Mary Beth is binge reading through the John Paul 2 High School fiction series and enjoying it. 

Stephen has begun Lord of the Rings, part of a course on Lewis and Tolkein.

Patrick is reading A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court.

And Katie has a series of her own going. After having literally memorized huge chunks fo the Little House books, she's reading the Anne Pellowski series. She's utterly captivated. She knows that she comes from Polish roots and the combination of Polish culture and Catholic references are truly endearing to her. 

::pondering prayerfully

Fly from bad companions as from the bite of a poisonous snake. If you keep good companions, I can assure you that you will one day rejoice with the blessed in Heaven; whereas if you keep with those who are bad, you will become bad yourself, and you will be in danger of losing your soul. ~St. John Bosco

   

::carefully cultivating rhythm

Last week, we had contractors here to build in shelves and drawers in closets. Life revolved around tearing out, spackling, and painting to get ready for "the closet guys." And then, it revolved around putting everything back and repurposing furniture previously used by little girls. This week, it's all about getting back to normal.

::creating by hand

I plan to join Elsie Marley this week for the Kids Clothes Week Challenge and spend at least an hour a day sewing for children. So far, um, yeah. I plan to do it.

::learning lessons in

Organization, humility, beginning again. My kids forgot to take out the trash last Wednesday night. Our neighbor was beyond annoyed. He called the Homeowner's Association and they came out. Really embarrassing. It's back to a rock-solid actual checklist and inspection of such things. There is an old adage I've known for 20 years or more: Don't expect what you don't inspect. True that. 

::encouraging learning 

I'm still having conferences with my kids, but we're making great progess. More checklists happening. I'd gotten away from lists and records, but I'm back now. I need them. A lot. (see above)

::begging prayers

for all the people who have joined our weekend prayer community. I carried your requests with me to Mass and I will keep a candle lit for you throughout the week.

:keeping house

Speaking of old adages, there is much to be said for "a place for everything and everything in its place." We are making great progress on having a place for everything. For instance, typical suburban houses aren't made for nine beds and they aren't made for linens for nine beds. Now that we've made maximum space of the closet in the little girls' room, I've moved Sarah's dresser into my bathroom and it's storing towels and sheets. I'm pretty sure I heard the hall linen closet sigh with relief. And so on and so on. Teeny, tiny, baby steps. 

::crafting in the kitchen 

I heard your request for meat sauce to go with the manicotti. Hoepfully, I'll get that one written up tomorrow. I went to the Famer's Market for the first time this season. Yay! Saturday morning fruits and veggies are the best. I'm looking forward to spending the whole growing season indulging in my standard lunch: a cup of Greek yogurt, a half teaspoon of raw honey, and whatever fruit is ripe and plentiful and local. (Psst, they already have strawberries:-) 

::loving the moments

One day last week, Nicky and Karoline and I went to visit the geese. Karoline has named them all since we go nearly every day. Usually, though, I take all the little girls. It was really fun to just have those two children along. The dynamic between them is special and I loved witnessing it. Nicky caught some good video with his iPod camera and he even managed a few good pictures of a bird of prey. And then I got a few pics, too;-).

::living the liturgy

I plan to begin to use 33 Days to Morning Glory with all my kids this week, in preparation for Marian Consecration on the Feast of the Visitation. More about this book later in the week, I think.

 

::planning for the week ahead

We didn't get to make that aforementioned bee trip. Maybe this week. We have 4 orthondontic appointments on Wednesday. That means we'll have four people moaning and groaning and drikning frozen smoothies Wedesday night. Mike and I are looking forward to a fancy grown-up lunch to celebrate my stepmom's birthday on Saturday morning. Sephen is being confirmed Saturday night. Mary Beth has her first performance with her new dance school on Sunday. And then, I think Sunday evening is just begging for a celebration cookout.

All pictures this week are from my iPhone. I'm having a wonderful time getting to know the camera.