Life at Home

Just for Today-book

Outside My Window

It's getting ready to be steamy, probably one of the last steamy days of the year.  

I am Listening to

Madeline working through her morning routine in her room, humming to herself.

I am Wearing

Purple knit pyjamas pants with white, teal, hot pink and black spotty-circles, and a  tank top.  I saw these pants on a shopping mission for something else but I had to have them.  By rights they are fall and winter pjs but if I skip the matching hot pink thermal top I can wear them now.   And I must, because I love them.

I am Grateful for

being able to exercise again, even if it's making me unbelievably tired in the moment.  It feels great to be moving!

I'm Pondering

"Wisdom enters through love, silence and mortification.  It is great wisdom to know how to be silent and to look at neither the remarks, nor the deeds, nor the lives of others."  ~St. John of the Cross, via Elizabeth Foss

I am Reading

Before I Go:  Letters to Our Children about What Really Matters by Peter Kreeft, with Matthew before I send him off to bed at night.

Boundaries with Teens by John Townsend, not because we're having trouble with our teen but because we want to avoid what we can. 

The Handbook for Catholic Moms by Lisa Hendey, again.

I am Thinking

about hiking in West Virginia in September.

I am Creating

a How to Run My House While I'm Gone binder, which the recipient can take or leave as she likes,  but don't say I didn't warn you and provide explicit driving directions.  ;-)

On my iPod

Father Roderick again!  

We are Learning

Finishing up the Middle East and heading toward hurricanes, since we generally don't have them heading toward us.   We're trying block studies this year for social studies and science.  Madeline likes to dive into a subject and stay there for a while, so that's what we're doing.  We've had a month of the Middle East, and next week she and Grandma will investigate hurricanes.  After hurricanes we start Asia with India and Mother Teresa, then back to a science subject.  This approach seems to be working well so far this year. 

Around the House

The new and improved job chart is working!  It's really working!

From the Kitchen

Cooking big for the freezer.  Late last week I made a yummy pulled pork recipe that provided two meals so far and two or three for the freezer, depending on who is eating.  I made a double batch of Arwen's Family's Spaghetti Sauce yesterday, which will easily give us six meals.  I think I'm going to go to Gerbers tomorrow and get a bunch of chickens to roast and shred for the freezer.  I feel like Ma Ingalls putting things by for the winter, although I have the undeniable luxury of a giant freezer at my disposal. 

I am holding in prayer

my children, who have made it clear they will miss their parents next week.

Activities for the rest of the week

 Vacation is over.  Ballet started last week and Madeline's swimming group started this week.  On Tuesdays and Thursdays, for the next six weeks I will have three trips to the pool and back on my schedule.  If anyone has  a better idea, I'm all ears!  I don't know what is more appealing:  sitting at the pool or in its vicinity for hours, or running back and forth between pool and home.  Mondays and Fridays have swimming in the afternoon and ballet in the evening.  And this year we have big boy swim practice and little girl ballet on Saturdays.  It's only a season, and the kids are thrilled.  We press on.

 

Just for Today-book

Outside my window...it's dark.  It seems to be getting dark earlier all of a sudden.

I am wearing...khaki capris and a purple short-sleeved tee.  I slipped off my favorite khaki, pink and purple shoes off some time ago.

I am reading...nothing at the moment.  I had a binge of fiction for a while, but now that's spent.  I read Still Alice twice in the past month and still it sits with me.  The best book I've read in a long time.

I am nurturing my heart...our daughter requested special time with both of us, Rich and I, seperately and together, and suggested we take the same time with Matthew.  Out of the mouths of babes...we're going to make a go of it. 

I am nurturing my mind...by doing what I can do, mindfully.  No pushing.  As best I can.  Still.

I am nurturing my body...I consulted with the local physical therapists and with their help developed a water aerobics program I think I can do.  I am supposed to do the water aerobics three times a week and walk at least twice a week.  We had a wedding last weekend and Madeline had to go to the doctor today.  And so it goes.  But I keep trying. 

From St. Francis de Sales:  "I tell you not to deprive yourself of the rest or the medicines or the food or the recreations that are prescribed for you.  You can exercise a kind of obedience and resignation in accepting these that will make you extremely agreeable to our Lord."

I am nurturing my soul...back to the Divine Office, early in the morning.

I am holding in prayer...Intentions for peace in all families, but especially those struggling with old hurts and instability.   New families, including my cousin and his new wife, as they embark on their new life together.

We are learning...the Middle East, math facts, Bible History, little grammar here and there.  The basics. 

Around the house...soooo backburnered, except for the new and improved job chart, courtesy of Martha Stewart and her list of recommended jobs that need doing every week/month/season.  We're getting into the swing of swim team season now, so that's about all I can handle.  No special projects. 

From the kitchen...not a whole lot.  It's fair week.  We ate at home tonight, but I have a feeling the rest of the week will be spent eating fair food.  At least until Thursday, when the fair ends for another year. 

Activities for the rest of the week...Matthew has swim team, and that's all.  He decided that he didn't want to play fall baseball, he didn't want to continue with Boy Scouts, and he stopped playing violin several months ago.  Madeline hasn't started ballet yet (although the Nutcracker kickoff meeting is Saturday) and won't start swimming until next week, so I feel like I'm practically on vacation! 

A picture thought to share...the happiest bride and groom I've seen in a long time!

InsideCatholic.com | Noodling the Theology of the Body | Feature | Articles

InsideCatholic.com | Noodling the Theology of the Body | Feature | Articles.

Depression & Christianity

Depression & Christianity.

Are humans inherently good or bad?

Are humans inherently good or bad?.

How the "I am a worm"/total depravity theology hurts children

How the "I am a worm"/total depravity theology hurts children.

Daily Quote from Pope Benedict XVI

Daily Quote from Pope Benedict XVI.

Fourth of July Daybook

Outside my window...hot, hot, hot!  High in the 90s expected today. 

I am wearing...shorts and a sleeveless button down.  I'll let my red,white and blue tablecloth be festive today. 

I am reading...Small Steps for Catholic Moms.  Divine Intimacy.  Still hoping to get to Time Management for Catholics, maybe even with Matthew! 

I am nurturing my heart...by focusing on immediate family-time this weekend.  Matthew is home after a week at summer camp.  The guys are currently gone at a baseball game this morning, but they'll be back soon, I hope.  I'm not a very good baseball mom in saying that, but there, I said it. 

I am nurturing my mind...by doing what I can do, mindfully.  No pushing.

I am nurturing my body...I am (still!) swimming.  Three times last week.  While the kids are at swim team practice at the outdoor pool I go swimming at the indoor pool.  Next step:  incorporating some of the core exercise suggestions from Complete Conditioning for Swimming into my life.

From St. Francis de Sales:  "I tell you not to deprive yourself of the rest or the medicines or the food or the recreations that are prescribed for you.  You can exercise a kind of obedience and resignation in accepting these that will make you extremely agreeable to our Lord."

I am nurturing my soul...by working Small Steps for Catholic Moms daily.  

I dance with my Father...Ann says, "If God makes a list of my laments, I will make a list of God's love. If God has a list of my pain, I will make a list of my praise. If God writes a list of my tears, I will write a list of my thanks...keeping the list of His love, keeps me in joy."

44.  the gift of time to focus on preparing unit studies for fall.

45.  re-found pillow shams purchased twelve years ago, now on our bed with a new blue coverlet.  Now our room reflects the season, with a beachy feel.  Love it.

46.  Decluttered basements.

53.  potted flowers. 

57.  garden fresh beets

58.  harvesting home-grown veggies

I am holding in prayer...Intentions for peace in all families, but especially those struggling with old hurts and instability.   

We are learning...we took a break during summer camp.  I need to re-introduce Matthew's reading list, adding Time Management for Catholics.  :-D  He is also working on keeping algebra fresh this summer.  Madeline is working on language mechanics and math facts. 

Around the house...Updating our list from last post: 

1.  DONE!  purge and clean the garage;

2.  DONE!  finish the spring clean-up of all the gardens;

3.  decide the fate of the two crab apple trees that have been struggling and losing limbs for two years;

4.  SUNROOM DONE!  wash windows inside and out;

5.  TO BE DELEGATED prune all shrubs;

6.  move and remove select shrubs; 

7.  Matthew's room (paint, DONE! bedding, mattress and box spring);

8.  Carpet cleaning;

9.  DONE!  Clean and purge basement storage area.

We celebrate the season...by doing the ordinary in Ordinary Time, I guess.  No pushing, remember?

From the kitchen...burgers, white bean salad, green salad (from our garden), watermelon and peach cobbler for 4th of July, served on red, white and blue linens.  And plates, too, of course.  Maybe Madeline can help me find other festive decor options in that mess of a craft room of mine.

Activities for the rest of the week...it's Freedlander week.  That's all that needs to be said.

A picture thought to share...not one.picture has been taken since I last posted.  Oh dear, that is just not right.

Time Management for Busy Moms

Time Management for Busy Moms.

The Fast of Loneliness and the Feast of Friendship

In the past few weeks, our lives have slowed from the busy pace of late spring with its baseball and work schedules and the final push of the school routine.  Things are slower around here.  And I am working my way back to normal on so many levels after a rough stretch.  And we are praying for new direction in our lives, praying to understand God's will for us, praying to know the way.

via www.footprintsonthefridge.com