My thoughts on Lent

You know, Lent is a funny thing. I began this Lent with great, concrete plans, which I prayerfully considered before finalizing. And then God laughed....I had made plans. Yes, I had consulted Him and asked for His direction. I still feel those plans are good, well thought out plans, which will produce much fruit, but Our Lord in His Mercy has shown me some other areas that I really need to work on...things I would never have thought of on my own. Almost miraculously, I could suddenly hear the tone with which I speak to my family...and it wasn't tender, gentle or kind. It was tired, impatient and sarcastic. My heart broke. I was horrified. As the mom, I set the tone for the family, after all, the mother is the heart of the family. I have to change this. I have to do better. Self-knowledge can be so painful, but it is always a gift to help us grow.
I did not give up chocolate this year. I was on to "bigger and better" things, I thought. But....I have not been able to eat chocolate this Lent....it seems so frivolous and unnecessary. Now, if you know me, you will know that I NEVER put the words 'chocolate' and 'unnecessary' together! This is truly the Lord's work. ;)
So many times I have opened a book to a certain passage or glanced at an article that spoke directly to my heart. These little nudges are Lenten gifts to me from a loving Father. He wants me with Him, and He is showing me the path.

Short takes -- Lenten style

Since I am trying to limit my on-line time during Lent (with limited success), I am finding it difficult to write a thoughtful blog post in a short amount of time. So, I will share some thoughts bullet style:
* I am very, very sad about President Obama's overturning the ban on embryonic stem cell research funding. Why does it seem to me that the truth about the matter is so clear, so simple, so obvious that I cannot understand why liberals do not see it! There have been NO successes with embryonic stem cells, but MANY with adult or umbilical stem cell treatment....the babies don't have to be killed to "further scientific progress". It amounts to deliberately ignoring the truth in order to further a political goal...which is what I believe is happening.
* I am glad that basketball ends this weekend. The boys have done well...mom needs a break. I think I get a whole 2 weeks before baseball starts.
* I am soooo thrilled that I got to talk to college girl last night via Skype!! It is so very reassuring to be able to see her beautiful face and talk to her when she is so far away. The whole group of students took a 10 day vacation to Rome and Assisi. This weekend she will go to Switzerland (think Chocolate, Lexi!), after that it is off to Medugorgje, then France, England and Ireland, and finally she and a group of friends will spend Easter in Greece. After finals, she comes home on May 1. What an incredible experience for her. I am thrilled for her...and not jealous or envious at all....repeat....I am not jealous or envious at all....repeat....I am not....
* Seven year old son thinks that 16 year old son should be on "America's Got Talent" since he can text and walk at the same time:)
* Hubs just told me that according to the "The Almanac" (If you're from New England, you know which one!) New Hampshire gets 55 to 60 sunny days PER YEAR! I really, really, really need some sun, soon.
*Guess which city gets 300 sunny days per year? I'll let you know tomorrow!

Happy Birthday, Lucien

Happy 12th birthday, Lucien, my impish, spirited, on-the-go nephew with a big heart for his littlest cousin. (I've seen him be concerned and protective of his sisters also, but he may not want word of that to get around!) ;)
May God bless you this year with health, joy, peace and maybe a bicycle kick goal thrown in for good measure!

Sweet Successes

Faith and Family Live has been inviting us to share our small successes each week. It is a good practice to see even the little things we get right, because they add up to big successes. It keeps us accountable, but it is also very encouraging. Click the 'Small Successes' badge above to visit Faith and Family Live and see what other people are sharing.

1. For the first time ever in my house, I heard the words, "Mom, can I go do my math?" And today, he disappeared and went to do his math all by himself! With. No. Prodding...At.All. Now, perhaps these are not really my successes, but I am the one who purchased the new Teaching Textbooks 5 for him. That counts for something, right?

2. After about 5 years of doing Stations of the Cross at home with our special candle ceremony, I finally stained and decorated our homemade candle holder the way I have intended....for 5 years. Here's a pic:
OK a couple of pics. And here's another gratuitous shot of our Lenten Altar, which actually goes with #3 below:

(I need to get a closer picture of the Gethsemane statue. It says "Not my will but yours be done" on the front of the rock that Jesus is leaning on. It is a poignant presence on our altar.)

3. I have been doing very well keeping my Lenten resolutions for prayer, fasting and almsgiving. In fact, everyone has. Having a concrete plan has been so helpful and fruitful.
"Our Easter will only be as good as our Lent."
What are your successes?

A Man of Few Words

Ten year old *sick* boy sitting very quietly at teenage brother's basketball game, watching as teenage brother displays an overabundance of intensity (ahem!) :

"Isaac's not going to get the Sportsmanship Award."

Ummm, noooo, probably not........

Simple Woman's Daybook

Click on the Simple Woman's Daybook button to the left to see other daybooks .

FOR TODAY March 2, 2009...
Outside my window...very light snow
I am thinking... it will be a quiet day. Not only do we have a snow day, but Ethan and Sam are not feeling well.
I am thankful for...warm slippers and a day without basketball (shhh...don't tell the boys!)
From the learning rooms...Co-op is cancelled today and I don't have other schoolwork planned, so we will get caught up on some housework and paperwork.
From the kitchen...Coffee? I smell coffee...hope he brings me some!
I am wearing...pajamas and warm slippers
I am creating...a Lenten atmosphere in my home
I am going...to keep my Lenten sacrifices
I am reading...The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord by Anne Catherine Emmerich and The Privilege of Being a Woman by Alice von Hildebrand
I am hoping...the boys haven't caught anything more sinister than a common cold. One of my confirmation students has mono! Yikes!
I am hearing...hubby prowling about the house
Around the house...things are pretty tidy, but definitely could use vacuuming and dusting One of my favorite things...an empty laundry basket, and I am almost there!!!
A few plans for the rest of the week:basketball practice, basketball games, doctor's appointments for those boys' coughs, prayer, fasting, almsgiving...
Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Ethan's 3/4th grade basketball team won the Cabin Fever Tournament!! Way to go, boys!! Now on to the next tournament:)

Snow day?

I awoke before 6am this morning to check on the snow situation. It wasn't doing much. I logged onto our local news website and every school and function to the north, south, east and west of us was canceled today...over 500 cancellations. So, I decided it would be prudent to cancel our homeschool co-op meeting today. I sent out a quick email and snuggled back into bed.
It was a given, right? Places that don't get snow were getting snow, and lots of it. New England was going to get hit hard....and it did....except right here in southwest New Hampshire. We got one inch of snow!!!! About 20 miles to the south of us, it was a mess. We just happened to be in some happy convergence of weather ingredients and the storm slid right past us. God has been merciful to me, a complainer about the snow. I am unworthy, but so grateful.