A Little Chat

So, I found Michele's post in my emails recently.  I have to admit,  I am behind on any blog reading.  Trying to keep up with the lofty goals I set for Lent.  Anyway, it got me thinking.  Maybe she is right.  I mean, I really love those chit-chatty posts as well.  This blog has been suffering from lack of time and energy, coupled with pressure (all self inflicted) to produce the best post ever, every time!

Here's a resolution to post more and analyze less.  We currently have some sort of nasty virus sweeping through the house--people are dropping like dominoes flies (if my husband reads this post he will appreciate my mixed up idiom usage)  So, perhaps I am a bit delirious--I feel like I am next.

How is your Lent going?  Too quickly?  I know what you mean.  I am so enjoying the Matthew Kelly's Best Lent Ever and St Paul's Center for Biblical Studies course on Mary and the Bible.  However, the best part of my Lent, so far, has been my last minute decision to throw together a small group study for 33 Days to Morning Glory.  I received the book as a gift at least four years ago, completing it in a group has made me stay on track and not give up.

These Lenten gems have been just what the doctor ordered for my homeschooling fatigue.  Please tell me that I am not the only one!  Middle school, Communion prep, and a noisy, crazy toddler have worn me down.  I keep asking myself, "Why am I doing this?"

I know the answers, I can give them myself--I just don't always like them.  I keep looking for another option, even though I know that one does not exist that will meet my goals and standards.

Speaking about "why am I doing this?" it is time to begin working on the Children's Stations of the Cross for Good Friday.  I was not looking forward to tracking down kids to play each part, and pleading with singers and readers.  However, God is good.  I already have five children signed up in the first few hours of registration--including Jesus, which is usually the hardest sell!

How about you, do you have any special events for children at your parish this Lent?  Thanks for stopping by to chat awhile. 

Sacrificial Giving-Plus Qualifiers in #7QT

I wrote this article in a burst of inspiration from the Holy Spirit's prompting to share this idea.  After I finished it and reread for editing I became afraid that I wasn't worthy to share this message.  It has been sitting in my draft folder for over a week.  I realized I must share it, but here are my seven qualifiers first, before you think I am someone I am not.

1

Inspiration needs perspiration, so just having a revelation in your heart does nothing without a transformation of your soul and habits.  I am praying very hard this Lent for the transformation to become who God wants me to be.

2

I have said it before, I am only a sinner.  There is nothing more special about me, other than God sometimes speaks to me through writing ideas.  However, I read the quote recently, "A saint is just a sinner who kept trying."  I am going to just keep trying.

3

My life is not perfect, my days are not perfect, I am not perfect.  There is so much I do not share publicly, but know that those moments that I am glad no one else sees are real.

4

I do not want to come off as overly pious, nor pompous.  However, I pray often, "Speak, LORD, Your servant is listening."   So, when I considered just burying this article and not publishing, I felt like God would then say, "Hey, I spoke, you just didn't listen." And nobody wants that!

5

It has been my fervrant prayer for years for God to sent me where I can serve Him best.  I have been struggling with feeling like I am not getting anywhere where I can be God's Hands and Feet.  Howevver, I have realized, recently, that God has sent me to a mission field--our town and our home--with plenty of people in need to recieving God's Love and Light.

6

If not me, then who?

7

I would rather try for Christ and fail, then never even try.  

After all those qualifiers, here is the idea God placed on my heart:

At our Lenten Small Group Study, my dear friend, Dara, said that for Lent she was truly trying to give until it hurt, to give above and beyond by true sacrifice.  I began to think of how I could do likewise. When we think of giving, we generally associate it with giving of money, goods, and riches.  However in my reflection on how to live this sacrifice, a radical thought was laid on my heart.  What if I gave mercy until it hurt?  What if I gave of my time and patience and love until it truly hurt?

In the movie Fireproof, a young fire fighter and his wife are on the brink of divorce.  When Caleb, played by Kirk Cameron, seeks pity from his father, this father instead gives him a Love Dare manual.  While Caleb is the one being jilted, he accepts the idea and tries to proceed with the dare. It is daunting at first, cooking breakfast for his wife that she refuses to eat, sending flowers that she will not acknowledge.  Though difficult, his father persuades him to continue. As time passes, Caleb realizes how little sacrificial love he had been sharing.  His marriage is saved in the end, but it is Caleb' s heart that is most transformed.

So this is my challenge.  What if I take those five minutes to snuggle with my son, when I would rather get to read?  What if I woke up early to clean and devoted my mornings to being there for the children?  What if my first action in the morning was to truly pray for God to use me for His Glory instead of calculating how many more minutes I could eek out of my morning to lie in bed a bit longer? What if when my alarm for the Angelus chimes, I completely stop and patiently pray every word regardless of what I am in the middle of doing?  What if I met my husband at the door in a loving welcome instead of hovering over my pots, pans, and email?  What if I stopped craving time for me and sought only time for God?  What if I looked in my Bible six times a day and checked my email once? What if I let the person behind me check out first, held the door a little longer, gave up the primo parking spot, drove gently and joyfully?  What if I forgave instantly, gave blessing for ridicule, prayed earnestly for those who offend me, resolve to be unoffended?  What if I loved the LORD my God with all my heart and all my mind and all my strength and all my soul?

What if...?  It's a tall order but isn't this what being a Christian is all about?  Aren't we called to greater glory?  I know that it will be hard and that I will falter more times than I wish to admit, but instead of feeling the martyr for attempting a brief respite from chocolate and the decadence of western life, I am choosing to truly die to self and live for Him.  I have been feeling so depleted, so run down, and over stretched.  My prayers have been for rest and solitude, for "me time," for vacation.  However, it is in weakness that the power of God is strongest.  As St John wrote, "He must increase as I decrease."  There is no rest apart from God, my sights are set on Heaven, His Yoke I sling over my shoulder and pledge to work for Him alone. My God, I am all in!

Five Favs: Free Lenten Studies

This may be my shortest #5Favs post ever.  I am trying out a number of online studies and mini-studies this Lent and they are really focusing my Lent in the right direction.  Here is my list of favorites, most are completely free.  Enjoy! (Linking up with Ashley)

1

Matthew Kelly's Best Lent Ever

Matthew Kelly is one of my all time favorite, Catholic authors.  His books will ignite a fire in even the coldest hearts.  If you don't have much time to read, though, try out his online Best Lent Ever program.  Each day two short videos, a reflection, and action plan are delivered to your email.  It takes about five minutes to read, watch, and reflect on the teaching of the day.  Even the busiest of us have five minutes to give to growing in faith.  There is still time to sign up, so do it today.

2

The Wild Goose

I am just starting this study and do not think that I will finish before Easter, but I am so excited that my friend shared it with me.  The study consists of a growing list of videos, each around 35 minutes long.  There is also a study guide, as well as other resources.  The cinematography is breathtaking and the message of the role of the Holy Spirit invigorating.  Did I mention it is free?  Absolutely free.  This would be a wonderful study to do in a small group or just within your family.  Everything you need is right there, all you need is about an hour per session.  Sign up anytime through the Wild Goose webpage and set you soul on fire.

3

The Bible and the Virgin Mary

Let's say your time budget is really small.  Could you spare about 6 hours over the entire season of Lent?  Or do you want to know more about Mary so that you can defend the Catechism of the Catholic Church and grow in appreciation for Our Blessed Mother?  If you answered yes to either of these questions, this is the study for you.  Delivered to your Inbox in 12 segments (about two per week), this video study from the St Paul Institute is another beautifully crafted addition to any Lenten journey. Truly the films are breathtaking in sight and knowledge.  If you choose to delve deeper, free video participants receive free shipping on any order of the companion workbook.  Please check it out today!

4

Bishop Barron's Lenten Reflections

Bishop Barron is a dynamic preacher and solid theologian.  He has a depth of knowledge and insight that will draw you deep into the faith, but is able to present it all in a way accessible to anyone.  The Bishop's reflections are delivered each day to your email and correspond to the the relevant Gospel readings of the week.  With these reflections, you will pick apart the Temptation of Christ over a span of days and have a renewed insight into what these temptations truly meant not only in Biblical context but in the whole of salvation history.  There is still time to sign up for free!

5

Father Gaitley's 33 Days to Morning Glory

This is an exciting study that leads to a total consecrations to Mary.  You will not only be drawn to closer devotion to Mary and greater understanding of her role in God's Great Plan, but you will also learn about a collection of saints that were influenced by Our Lady and the fruits of that devotion.  I am currently doing this in a small group via Formed.org.  While Formed.org is only free to members, the $9.99 per a month cost would easily be paid for just be this one study.  I am blessed to have a free membership through our parish.  The study on Formed.org includes all the retreat materials ready to print or read online, the entire book 33 Days to Morning Glory and Multiple videos each week of Father Gaitley teaching the principles of the consecration.  It is the perfect length for Lent, lasting about 6 weeks.  

What are your favorite resources online to enrich your Lenten journey?

A Walk Through My Week

To all those blogging, homeschooling mamas out there who manage to post regularly all the time, kudos to you! I don't know how you do it because I seem to be struggling to keep up with everything.  So, while I had at least three posts in mind for this week, this is the only one you are getting, dear readers.  There's always next week, right?  {Little Man's new desire to "help" with typing hasn't really made posting easy either.  When I posted my To-Don't List, I went back and re-read it and realized how many typos were in there. Ouch!  Between dodging those blonde locks and ten extra fingers on the keyboard, my editing skills were non-existent.  So, I apologize and hope that this post works out better.}  Linking up with Kelly.

1

I have mentioned before that I am working on another mother/daughter retreat series. This is actually going to published into a manual with all the talks, craft instructions, resources, and more.  It will be available through my etsy shop in late April.  If you would like a sneak peak, please become an email subscriber for a free sample file.  

2

As part of writing the mother/daughter retreat manual, I have been researching and gathering lists of resources for the girls and their moms.  I had planned on putting together a #5Favs post about places to find modest teen clothing--as you can see it didn't happen.  Now, I realize that modest teen clothing is almost an oxymoron these days, but I didn't realize just how hard it would be.  Many of the places advertising teen or tween clothes either had nothing for sale in that department or just a black skirt and a turtleneck.  So, I am still searching and hope to have the list up next week.  If you have any suggestions, please let me know.  I have found a few places, but am still in search of more every day clothing vendors--apparently formal wear is easier to come by.

3

Tuesday was Candlemas and we invited dear friends over to celebrate with us.  I decided to make these votive jars with the kids, except we used jars from the recycling bin.  I like that they are refillable and I had battery operated tea lights for the old kids to use when they want to light a candle for a special prayer request. They had a great time and the jars turned out so pretty.  We used prayer cards that I picked up from our parish store and the nice thing is the prayer on the back is still readable through the top of the jar.

4

After making the votive jars, we rolled some beeswax candles.  I contemplated making jar candles, but that seemed very complicated and pouring hot wax with very active little ones about seemed like a recipe for disaster.  I purchased two kits from Sunflower Candles.  The first made two candles and came with extra pieces of colored beeswax for decorations. The second kit made three tapered candles.  Ann is a wonderful shopkeeper, I have ordered from her in the past and am always satisfied.  She graciously included an extra ready made candle to use as a sample for the children.  The children were so creative with the colored beeswax and enjoyed that part of the craft time best. Aren't they lovely?

5

This Sunday we will bring our candles and candle holders to church to be blessed and try to light one of the candles each day when we pray the St Michael prayer and for special liturgical feasts, like Easter.  If rolled correctly, these little beeswax candles last a long time.

6

So, you know all those blogs with smiling children who pose beuatifully and look like magazine models?  Well, this isn't one of them.  I tried to get Buddy to display his votive jar in such a way, and this is what I got.  At least he is smiling, kind of.  Little Man had to get in on the act, too, with his cheesy picture smile.

7

I posted this on Facebook, but would like to ask again for prayers for Lizz.  My heartbreaks for her and her children.  I have thought a lot about having to say goodbye to my children and what their life would be like without me.  I have friends who have walked that road and I have marveled at how they handled it, but still questioned why God would take a young mother whose children need her so!  God has a plan, I know.  Please pray that this family will be wrapped in His Love and Protection, and if it be His Will may receive the miracle they so desperately need.

#5Fav: Cheap Books!!!

It's that time of year when I start planning for next school year and begin hunting for books for Christmas gifts.  I have hit on some tremendous deals and am so excited, although I keep telling myself that I must pace myself because there are months and months until the new school year and even more until Christmas and I always end up with too many books!  Are there really ever too many books?  There are never too many children, that is for sure, Mother Teresa reminds us of that.  I think books would come in second behind children, there are always more to read and explore!  I'm linking up with Ashley to bring you my Fave Five places to find good books, cheap!

1

Have you heard of Thriftbook ?(affiliate link)  Oh, you are in for a treat. I discovered it a couple weeks ago and it is now my number one pick.  Oh, the books!!!!  A mother on the Mater Amabilis Facebook group recommended the site and I am so happy she did.  I purchased fourteen high quality, beautiful books for only $52.  Shipping is free on all orders over $10 and for every $50 you spend, you earn a $5 off coupon.  I know, it just keeps getting better!  When it is time to shop for books, definitely hit them first.   The only down side that I can see with the site is that browsing is not as easy as on Amazon or other large book sellers.  However, that hasn't stopped me from buying a bunch of books and compliling a long wishlist.  Two of the new books arrived today and they are in fantastic shape, even though they were listed as "good condition."  Thriftbook is a keeper.

2

Christian Book Distributors (affiliate link) is not a discount book store, however they have fantastic sales.  There is always a homeschool sale over the summer, that is when I purchase my consumables like handwriting along with Christmas gifts.  Their regularly priced books are often discounted from the list price.  Be sure to sign up for the coupon alerts, there are some great ones that come along each year. I purchased some Adventures in Odyssey Cd's last summer to use as Christmas gifts, between their discounted prices and the 30% homeschool sale coupon, I got them for about half off the list price.

3

If you can get to a homeschool conference with a used book sale, you have hit pay dirt.  Honestly, you cannot believe what can be found and how much can be saved until you try it.  Since that isn't always possible, there are online mom to mom sales that are just as amazing.  Cathswap, Homeschool Market, and Mater B/S/T are three of my favorites.  These groups seem to be gaining popularity and new ones are always popping up. I like that I not only get a deal but get to help out another mom.

4

Speaking of buying online, this one deserves its own listing.  The Facebook group Operation Adoption has absolutely incredible books, most new or like new, for highly discounted prices.  Not only do your dollars go further, they help bring a child to a forever home.  I could not help but support the latest sale wholeheartedly.  I planned on buying two books and ended up with a whole stack, but I am so excited about them.  I can't wait to give them as gifts.  I really had to restrain myself, the books were that good.  Now, I must add that while I think there are never too many books, I also think that books need to be well written and good quality.  My favorite are beautiful picture books, the kind that don't even need words, the prints are so captivatig.  We are a book collecting family, but we are also discerning readers.  The books on Operation Adoption may be low in price, but they are all high in literary value.  Please check them out and help bring a waiting child home!

5

There is no link for this, you will need to search yourself.  The hands down best places for books are library sales and thrift stores.  Seriously, I spent $2 at the last library sale and walked away with ten books, most of which were like new.  There are lots of people who don't appreciate a good book, and children that outgrow books more quickly than expected.  These barely used treasures are often donated to thrift stores and libraries.  Your money helps with mission trips, charity works, and purchasing new books for a town library.  If you don't know where any thrift stores are, check out The Thrift Shopper for a nationwide directory.  There is also Book Sale Finder, although I have never actually used this site, so I cannot speak to their reliability for information.

Where do you like to book shop?

To Don't List in #7QT

Late last night, while I was up way past when I should have been catching up on blog posts across the world wide web, Kelly's post about her list of what she isn't doing this year popped up.  As usual it was a great source of comic relief, but it got me thinking that I could make a list, too.  So here is my "To Don't" list for the new year.

1

Fertility Interrupted

I have decided not to obsess over my fertility or lack there of.  For years, I have prayed that God would give me the chance to just roll with the punches and experience the spontaneity of just letting go.  After years of closely monitored charts and brain crunching sessions of deciding exactly which abbreviation and sticker was needed each day in order to perfectly aligning my blood work and future pregnancy, all I wanted to do was throw the chart out!  Well, careful what you wish for.  Everything is so crazy in that department I have had to just throw the chart aside because none of it made sense so why chart.  So I am flying by the seat of my pants and leaving it all in God's Hands.  My tests are all normal, and that's good enough for me.  I'm too tired to figure it out, I know God knows what he is doing!

2

For Everything there is a Season--Stop Planning!

Dovetailing with the above, I am going to stop planning my life ten months in advance every day.  All those calculations of, "If I were to get pregnant today, the baby would come _____," and "That activity for July looks interesting, but if I were to get pregnant next month then I would be eight months along.  How would I ever go on a ten mile hike!"  The preliminary planning of contingency plans for every long range calendar even if I were in the first, second, or third trimester--don't forget the newborn survival planning that must be done.  Really it is all insane!  If it happens, it will happen when it is supposed to and everything will work out.  All the worry in the world can change nothing!

3

Homeschool Convention Drop Out

I realized that I did not need to attend three homeschool conference, I don't even need to attend one.  I know the books I need and don't need to browse.  While Kelly and I had a standing salad date at the CHAPLET conference that conference is no more.  Hanging out with Kelly was motivation to travel over three hours, but alas the next closest conference with significant amounts of the books we need is almost eight hours away--and no Kelly!  So, I am taking a hiatus from the homschool conference circuit for this year.

4

One Woman Band

Since my husband was more than willing to pay for a hotel, food, and gas for us to go to the national conference, I decided to use that money instead to pay for some online courses for Cowgirl through Homeschool Connections and Online Hose College.  Yes, they will cost a bit more than a four day trip to Virginia, but it's close enough for me. Could I do it all? Sure, I have just realized that I don't have to.  When accessing that I'll have a seventh grader, third grader, pre-schooler, three learning styles, two learning disabilities, and a partridge in a pear tree; I decided it was time to hand over the reigns of some of the classes for everyone's sanity.

5

Why Reinvent the Wheel?

Our family moto this year is "Work smarter, not harder."  So I have really been embracing this idea.  I joined the Mater Amabilis Facebook page for the fellowship and the great resources.  I had been using the curriculum page as a reference for book selections and lesson ideas.  Then it dawned on me, why not just follow the program instead of reinventing the wheel.  Next year, I will be following the Level 1A year 2 outline for Buddy in religion, literature, language arts, and geography. Of course, I still needed to nip a little here, tuck a little there and add a bit to the end; however it was so much easier than starting form scratch for everything.  If you are looking for a wonderful program that is affordable and flexible, I highly recommend checking out Mater Amabilis.   

6

Good Enough 

I am letting go of the idea of having the entire house clean at all times.  With more space and after a huge purge, there is far less clutter and it is easier to clean.  However, I don't have the time or energy to get every inch cleaned every day.  I am focusing on the spots that need the most attention (kitchen, high traffic floors, laundry, dishes, and bathroom sink) and getting to the rest of it once a week.  I am still tidying here and there as I go, but everything is good enough, not magazine ready all day long.  I used to have a 30 minute to company rule.  If the house could be company ready in 30 minutes then we were right on track.  I abandoned that and tried to keep it company ready at all times like my mother did and failed miserably.  Now, I think that if with everyone pitching in, if we can be company ready in one hour then that is good enough.

7

The Vicious Cycle of Facebook 

I am cutting the allure of the Facebook chimes and new post alerts.  If I am not checking it or posting the tab is closed.  Otherwise I am constantly sucked in for no reason. I'm also thinning out my feed to eliminate the drama that gets my blood pressure going.  Its something I started a couple years ago but never finished, Melody's latest post encouraged me to continue.  No need to follow that which is not good, true, and beautiful.

**On the up side, it has been a little quiet over here because I have been working on some bigger projects for the year.  I will be posting about those soon and hope to have them available by spring! 

{p, h, f, r} The New House Edition

I have been wanting to post pictures for awhile, but it just hasn't happened.  Over the weekend, we finally got the house blessed and I took the opportunity to snap some shots as we walked through the house.  I am linking up with Auntie Leila.

pretty

 I really like my pretty bedroom that is now no longer the overflow storage room of the house.  In our old house, there was no storage so if there was anything that needed to be kept out of the way or away form little fingers, it got piled in our room.  Auntie Leila always encourages ladies to keep a pretty room, and that I am doing.  I especially like the pretty quilt that my grandmother had bought for my mother who never got to use it.  I think they would smile seeing it in this beautiful room.  

 

I am trying to figure out what color curtains I want for this room.  My mother in law purchased the ones up now just to cover the windows until I decide.  She picked them up dirt cheap at the Christmas Tree shop.  What do you think?  Green? White? Off white?  Taupe?  Another color?  I just can't seem to find the right fit.

happy

 

We were very happy that Father J could come bless the house and spend a Sunday afternoon with us.  I set the table for coffee, tea, and apple cake fresh from the farm.  Some little person was very excited to have Father over, and a little impatient for that cake.  Can you tell?

funny

 

Well, Hubby and the rest of the family find it funny that I like my 1950's bathroom so much.  My favorite color has always been pink and this reminds me so much of my grandmother's pink bathroom.  When we first moved in, we had some major plumbing issues to contend with, including the leaking fixtures in the bathroom.  The plumber suggested I replace the whole shower unit because, "after all this work, you'll still have a pink tub!"

I told him leave my pink tub alone. I like my pink tub!

real

Hubby requested the workshop be blessed since Buddy does some crazy projects in there, hence everyone just out of frame.

This is our family room/playroom/classroom.  It has been a Godsend.    It is still very much a work in progress.  We had to replace the flooring and all the trim. The trim still needs to be reinstalled.  Then we have to replace the ceiling tiles.  Once the trim is up, we can arrange our bookcases and unpack our 40+ boxes of books.  However, just for some REAL perspective, if you moved our 1950's bathroom downstairs and attached it to this room, it would be the same size as out entire old house.  What a difference it is in a larger home!

 

 

There are parts of the house that I didn't include in this mini-tour.  I left out the children's bedrooms for their privacy.  There are also those parts that are a little too real, if you know what I mean, to broadcast across the world wide web.  The two areas above, I posted to get some feedback.  The first  is the stairway down to the family room.  Before we moved in, we pulled up from the stairs a very old, very dirty carpeting that was full of all kinds of nastiness.  I'm not inclined to replace it with carpeting because there are no electrical outlets that would allow easy and thorough vacuuming of the stairs--hence why they were probably so dirty. However, with the amount of foot traffic the stairs receive, I don't see paint holding up well.  Any suggestions or ideas?

The second photo is our future mud area.  Once the door is replaced (It is covered with a curtain because Buddy knocking and glass don't mix, so you really don't want to see our little patch job.) with a door that has a keyed lock, it will become the main entrance for the children and I since it is just off the car port where I park.  It will help keep their shoes and belongings out of the living room--along with the mud and snow!  The gate leads to downstairs.  I am not sure if I want to keep it.  I'm trying to decide on a color to paint it that will brighten the area up but stand up to muddy shoes and children continually passing through.  I'm all ears!