Lent Update

I'll bet you thought I gave up blogging for Lent! Not really; it has just fallen way on the back-burner lately for lots of reasons. I think I'm coming back....because I need an outlet for me. I am finding myself to be in a weird phase of life with 4 of my 6 children out of the house and the remaining two frequently in their rooms 90% of the time when they ARE home! Strangely, my life no longer revolves around my children and I've been at loose ends a little, lately.

I could get back to painting the trim in the basement, which I abandoned around Thanksgiving because Holidays, you know. I'm going to do that because it needs to be done, and I'm am also going to do some other things for myself.

I have plans to knit (of course), and sew, and read, and walk (a lot), and maybe blog. It is time to start remembering who I was before children....Well, maybe not. I am a different, hopefully better, person than I was before children, so I can't ever go back to that, but I can test the waters and find out who this new person is when she's not busy with Mom Stuff.

PHFR

{PHFR}

 { pretty }

You may have seen these two on FB: my bookends, my twinsies, my two, precious girls. They both cut off their super-long hair in the same week, and Meg's new glasses really brought out the resemblance!

  { happy }

I couldn't handle going to another AHG meeting in my uniform khakis with the wide, nondescript, unflattering legs. So, I "skinnified" them in about 20 mins. Tutorials abound via the interwebs, but it's simply a matter of turning them inside out, marking the width of the ankle, and drawing a line all the way up. Stitch. I also took out one fold of the hem to make them longer. Why did I wait so long to do this?

 { funny }

 Looking in the freezer earlier this week, I saw that we had a container of potato-leek soup which would do nicely for Ash Wednesday supper. I pulled it out and put it on the counter yesterday, and thought it must be the more recently eaten Cheese Velouté (since I didn't see any lumps of potato or green leeks). In my last mintue reheating, I tasted it to see how warm it was, and imagine my surprise at finding out it was really leftover frosting from Pioneer Woman's cinnamon rolls! Yummy, but not exactly dinner after a long day of fasting!

Fortunately, I had a lone can of black beans that I spiced up and served with cheesy tortillas broiled in the oven and a salad. Starvation averted.

Label your leftovers, folks! :-)

{ real }

Out shopping for Valentines, I found a Spicy Shelf. And I love myself so much I bought it!  

Because this:

It made me crazy. Every. Day.

There was room for only one in my cabinet (because I couldn't move the other shelf!), so I have another Spicy Shelf awaiting a home (what riches!). Life changing, you guys. It's not all matchy-matchy spices on the shelf, but it's so beautiful and so much easier to find what I need, take it out and put it back! 

Linking up with the lovely mothers and daughters at LMLD.

PHFR - Triduum Edition

{pretty} My sweet girl with half of her Phase 2 braces. She didn't smile much the rest of the day since her teeth are sore. :-(  On the plus side, that might make fasting tomorrow just a little bit easier! {happy}

Oh my! Those sweet faces from Easter 9 (NINE!) years ago! And would you look at the two stinkers in the front row? Pippo cracks me up. {funny}

Did I tell you about getting to meet the Property Brothers, or did I just put that on FB? I went with a couple of friends, and the guys answered a few questions and then took pictures with everyone. They shoved us between them, snapped, and pulled us away, shoving an autographed card in our hands. It was a little adventure. They were funny. And tall. (I'm 5'9", y'all!) And I have no idea what I did with their autographs, because that's the kind of fan I am.

(And no, this has nothing to do with the Triduum, but I needed a funny!)

{real}

See where we are on the Lenten calendar? All the way down there on Holy Thursday! ^ It's almost Easter! I'm frittering away my time this morning, when what I really want to do is explain why our family attends all the services of the Triduum if we possibly can.

One of our traditional Palm Sundaes. ;-)

So, tonight starts a marathon of Church-going. We begin with the Mass of the Last Supper which commemorates the time when Jesus instituted the priesthood and gave us the Eucharist. It's a beautiful Mass. If you're lucky (and I don't believe we will be this year), you'll hear at least the Latin Mass parts sung, and the beautiful Gloria will be intoned for the first time since before Ash Wednesday, and the bells will be rung throughout the Gloria. That's my favorite part. The other highlight of this Mass is the footwashing, and we end in silence as the Blessed Sacrament is taken to a special Altar of Repose where we can stand in for the apostles who slept in the garden. 

Tomorrow, there is Stations of the Cross at 3:00 p.m. We try to go to Stations, or at least do them at home or have quiet time from noon-3:00. In the evening is the Commemoration of the Passion of Christ and Veneration of the Cross. It's kind of a grueling service (not a Mass; it's the one day of the year when the bread and wine are not turned into the body and blood of Christ) with lots of standing and kneeling during the Prayers of the Faithful. 

And finally, there is the Great Easter Vigil on Saturday night. Ever since I came into the Church 18 years ago, we have gone to the Easter vigil nearly every year. Thinking back, I can't believe we've done it so many times. If I'm wrong, someone can correct me. ;-) The Church (and the organist) pulls out all the stops on this night. The music is the most beautiful, the flowers are gorgeous, the beautiful ritual of lighting the Easter fire and sharing the Light of Christ with everyone in the church is exquisite, and so is the singing of the Exsultet. That and the singing of the Litany of Saints bring me to tears on this night. (I remember Tom's godfather holding him as a 3 month-old and dancing with him to keep him calm during the Litany.) And you know the big bonus of the Easter Vigil? Unless there are a huge number of candidates and confirmands with their families, the church is not full and there is plenty of room to spread out!

Don't get me wrong....these beautiful 3 days are never easy! The kids get tired of going back to church all the time, and they're usually hungry because we plan dinner for after Mass. So the kids are hungry and tired; the parents may be, too, but we're grownups and we want to be there; and the services are long. It's always hard. Exhausting, even. But we do it because it makes Easter so much more special when we've been immersed in the fasting of Lent followed by these very special liturgies. 

I often feel as if I've "failed" Lent because of my lack of sacrifices, but I believe that fully immersing oneself in the Triduum and the Passion during these 3 days makes up for it! By the time we sing the Alleluia (hey kids! NOW it's Easter!), I'm ready for it. I've been run through the mill and I'm ready to celebrate the Resurrection.  

Oh, and aside from being tired and sometimes grumpy, the kids often fall asleep until they're about 10. They're always very proud of themselves if they can stay awake for the whole Easter Vigil! The boys like altar serving---partly because it helps keep them awake. And finally, it has to be said, another great advantage to the Easter Vigil (and the midnight Mass at Christmas) is the lack of crowds! There's nothing like a mob scene in the parking lot and being unable to find a seat to take people right out of the spirit of the holy day. Dontcha think?

What does your family do? Have you ever been to the Triduum services?

I probably won't be back here until Monday, so I will wish you a blessed Triduum and all the joy of the resurrection.

Quick Mid-Lent Takes

---1---

Have you done your mid-Lent checkup to see how you're doing with your sacrifices? No? Me, neither. So, here goes.

---2---

The Skirt-Up Challenge. I'm heartily sick of wearing skirts every day! I groan nearly every morning when I have to decide which skirt to wear that's appropriate for the ever-changing weather, and then which shoes to go with it. Shoes are the biggest problem---never in my life have I felt like I had the "right" shoes to go with an outfit, so this adds to the groanage every morning! 

Nevertheless, I choose an outfit, and I say a prayer for women who have lost their way or don't know the true beauty and meaning of womanhood. (Oh, and if you don't, go get my friend Pat's book for yourself or a friend!) The thing is, even though I want to wear jeans, I generally feel very comfortable and feminine in my skirts. It's not that much of a struggle, at all.

I thought about doing a series of photos for every skirt outfit during Lent, but then I realized how truly penitential that would be for myself and others. Here's today's pic, though. No shoes yet. And that's a $12.99 skirt from Costco. Love it!

---3---

The Jesus Tree or Calendar---where we read a Bible story every day to prepare for Easter. Not happening. We opted, instead, for memorizing scripture at dinner. It's working, and we are slowly building our repertoire of verses. It's hard for the adults, but I was thrilled when I saw someone reference Gen. 1:31 yesterday and I knew exactly what it said without looking it up!

---4---

That little vase of extra penances isn't getting used as much as I would like. 

---5---

Meg, Pippo, and I are still listening to the New Testament on the way to school, but it's Spring Break this week and I have missed it. I think we need to incorporated it into our days when we are staying home, too!

---6---

The Flocknote Lenten reflections are great. And so are Fr. Barron's . It's not too late if you need a boost before Holy Week!

---7---

This isn't strictly a Lenten penance, though going into the kids' bathroom can be very penitential. I finally broke and decided to leave them a couple of notes. Every. Single. Day. the boys shower and then leave the door closed---I don't know why. They don't turn on the exhaust fan, and the smell of the humidity and mildew growing makes me a little crazy. And the toilet....sigh.

---7b---

I'm wrapping up leading the Consoling the Heart of Jesus 10-week retreat, next week. It has been amazing. I'm so looking forward to Holy Week, Easter, and, especially, Divine Mercy Sunday after this. If you haven't done this retreat yet, I highly recommend joining a group, starting a group at your parish or just with a group of friends. It's really one of the most rewarding "retreats" I've ever done!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Join the fun at Jen's for more 7 Quick Takes!

2nd Day of Lent

Methinks it will be a long Lent if I count each day! It's only the 2nd day and I'm not doing as well as I would like, but I think we're "ready" now.  ;-)  Lent is like Christmas, it comes whether you're ready or not. Thanks to all those dedicated bloggers, I got lots of new (and old) Lenten ideas at the last minute.

So...here's what's up in our house:

I made the annual calendar using Jessica's download.  She's amazing.  It would take me way too many hours to put together all those graphics! And she's super-sweet to share with the world, too. I made my poster re-usable by not putting dates on it, and I didn't permanently glue down St. Patrick's, St. Joseph, and the Annunciation.  Everything else stays the same because Lent always starts on a Wednesday.  That's one good thing about it!

The routine is, usually, to do a Bible reading for the "Jesus Tree" but we haven't gotten there yet.  The box with the foam cutouts is on the table. Waiting. We have decided to pray a whole rosary (instead of just a decade) together after dinner, which we've done twice.  woot!  But I found this really cool method for memorizing scripture via Elizabeth Foss, which we haven't done yet. I simply forgot about it tonight. Maybe tomorrow, but tomorrow is the first Fish Fry....and the plans go awry...but I promise we will get to it because I have wanted my kids to memorize scripture for years and we just haven't been good at it.

The vase is full of ideas to liven up our days if we're weary of the same old sacrifice day in and day out.  There's another great list here, if you still need some ideas.  I think these come in really handy when someone has...say...a birthday party to attend, and that sacrifice of sweets for Lent is suddenly too much to bear.  

I haven't intentionally given up any food for Lent, just for my 50 for 50 Diet.  However, I just realized I have to give up nightshades, too.  I guess that will have to be part of my Lenten fast!

I'm in more of the Do Something for Lent camp, this year. Meg, Pip, and I are listening to the New Testament in the car on the way to school.  I love it.   We will get through far more than the Gospels this year, and we will just start Matthew again when we're done with Revelation. 

I also signed up for the Lenten reflections through Flocknote.  I forgot that I also signed up for Fr. Robert Barron's reflections, too!  So, I'm reflecting a lot, in addition to the spiritual books I want to read. 

It looks as though I have also given up pants for Lent, taking the SkirtUp Challenge.  I enjoy wearing skirts, and I have quite a few, but it may get difficult at some point.  Like when I'm stripping wallpaper off the bathroom walls next week.  I think I need a denim skirt.

Is your Lent off to a good start?  Or have you, like me, bitten off more than you can chew and you're already trying to decide what to keep and what to let go?

Pre-Lent Daybook

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...
It's rainy and chilly after a gloriously warm and sunny Sunday.  I wish it were beautiful again, but I'll keep my complaints to myself since others still have frigid temperatures, snow, and sleet.

I am thinking...
About my weekend and how I failed to finish my 7 posts in 7 days.  I'll count it a success, anyway, since I did post 5 days in a row.  I was up at 5 a.m. and out of the house by 5:40 on Saturday for a trip to Chattanooga for AHG training.  Exhausted when I got back!  And Sunday was... Sunday.  I rarely feel like blogging on my day off.  I try to stay away from the computer as much as possible, then.

I am thankful...
My brother-in-law is home from Afghanistan.  We've been praying for him since early October, and I'm relieved that he is home safely.

From the school table...
My high schooler is in his room re-reading history books and studying for tomorrow's mid-term. My 6th grader is in a puddle on the floor because she doesn't like narrating stories.  So, I'm blogging.

In the kitchen...
A new batch of kombucha today, and no plans for dinner yet.

I am wearing...
A long skirt, because the jeans are all dirty and it's too cold and damp for capris.  I'm considering taking the Skirt Challenge and wearing skirts all through Lent.  What do you think?

What I’m doing with fiber...
I "finished" my Drop in the Ocean, but it still needs a few ends woven in and blocking.  I'm ready to start the 3rd color in my Color Affection, so I really feel like I'm making a lot of progress on that one.  It's time to start thinking about summer knitting!

I am going...
nowhere special this week---just normal errands and schools.

I am reading...I am hearing on my ipod...

Your Personal Paleo Code by Chris Kresser.  Good, but there are a lot of charts and graphs which makes for slow reading when you're listening to the audiobook!

I am hoping and praying...
Oh my, the list grows ever longer...

• Elizabeth DeHority
• Gus
• Natalie - who has been in the hospital since 2/20, and is having surgery today.
• All of our priests
• an end to aborthion

I am looking forward to...
Ash Wednesday being over.  ;-)  It's always a challenge to be hungry and busy.  Getting to Mass on time and feeding everyone dinner at some point is going to be hard.  I'm supposed to sing in the choir, but that might not happen if I can barely get there in time.  I guess if God wants me in the choir, He'll get me there!

Around the house...
It's quiet.  Business as usual.

One of my favorite things...
Finding a book that's so gripping that I can't put it down.  I haven't had one of those in a while. You know, you spend all your spare minutes reading...while waiting for the water to boil in the kitchen...wherever you find spare moment.  Do you know of any like that?

A few plans for the rest of the week...
Finish up the Lenten prep!  It's Tuesday now...I started this Monday, and I finally got the Christmas wreath off the door and put up the Lenten one!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

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Failing at Lent

Have you failed at Lent, yet?  

I think we all do, and I'm not going to call myself names because of it.  Some sacrifices are harder than others---like remembering not to say anything bad about anyone, or swear, because those things are such thoughtless habits that they come out before you know it.  

Aside from Ash Wednesday when I ate corn because it was masquerading as a vegetable and not a grain (tricksy, tricksy!), I seriously failed yesterday.  I started out making Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies (because we are trying to quit cereal, and I make the cookies with very little sugar, unlike real oatmeal cookies) for my kids, thinking that oats are gluten-free, and I didn't use anything to sweeten besides maple syrup, nor put any wheat flour in them.  Pretty soon, I had a chocolate-chip cookie that was nowhere near a Breakfast Cookie, or anything that my kids would care to eat!  But I enjoyed them!

It was much, much later when I realized what I had done---making something sweet for my kids, eating it, grain (albeit gluten-free!), sugar, and all, myself!  

Failing at our New Year's Resolutions every January makes us call ourselves names and then give up those resolutions.  Lenten penances, however, serve to remind us that we 

a.   make these sacrifices  in order to grow closer to God, and 

b. that we need His help to succeed.

I think of it as a call to deeper prayer.  Lots of people choose not to "give up" anything for Lent in favor of "doing" something like add prayer time, and that's fine, but I think the constant reminder, through our failures, that we can only sacrifice things for Him and with Him is good.

Lenten Quick Takes (Sort of)

---1---

All the free time I had in January seems to have evaporated in February, so all the blog posts in my head probably won't get written.  I might have to just blog once a week, and make them each a quick take!

---2---

The Holy Father is on my mind and heart, and in my prayers a lot this week.  I don't know if it's the fact that the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes was Monday, and I wanted to watch The Song of Bernadette, but I keep thinking about how the Fr. Peyramale told her she would not be able to have a normal life, but would have to join the convent.  No matter how much the Pope may have wanted to retire to his home in Germany, he can't have a normal life either.  There is nowhere for a former pope, but a monastery and a life of prayer.  

I bought the movie on Monday, and watched most of it yesterday.  That scene breaks my heart, and you see hers breaking, as Father tells her what she must do.  And then when she says good-bye to Antoine, she is so at peace, though the rest of us may be sobbing, and I pray that good Papa Benny is at peace as well.

---3---

I'm still listening to The Lord of the Rings:  The Two Towers on CD.  I'll probably finish it today and be waiting anxiously for The Return of the King to arrive at the library!  I think about the kind of person Frodo is (or was) at the beginning of the story----just like the rest of us (okay, maybe we're not ALL Country Gentlemen!), living his quiet life, interested in a little adventure, but not too much.  Suddenly, he finds himself on this Perilous Quest with an impossible task to do.  Despite the hardships, he keeps putting one foot in front of the other, expecting to be captured or killed at any moment, and the way forward is gradually revealed.  In the end, he can't fulfill his task without the help of others, but it always arrives just in time.  

It's an interesting Lenten read as Frodo travels his own Via Crucis, and sacrifices himself utterly for the rest of the Middle Earth.  And how often are we given tasks to do in our own lives that are quite beyond our capabilities, but we go forward in faith that if God has given the job to do, He will also provide the necessary help---not too soon, but just in time?  There's so much to think about!

---4---

On a lighter note....I've been meaning to share this video for all the Downton Abbey fans out there.  Or if you're just a Sesame Street fan.  The Dowager Countess looks just like her muppet!  They did a great job on her.

---5---

We haven't been talking about D.A. here.  Have you been watching?  I love watching everything unfold, but I don't long for it during the week because I know how it all ends this week.  :-(  I am completely miffed that on another blog where we were discussing the most recent episode, someone spilled the beans about the end of the season.  I mean, really, couldn't she just stick to that particular episode instead of ruining it for all of us?  

Sometimes Julian Fellows just ticks me off!  I don't know why he does some of the things he does.  I do know about the upcoming final episode, but I don't know why he killed Sybil; she was one of the most charming parts of the show---at least until she got married and became Tom's doormat.  Do you like what's happening?

---6---

Fish Frys (Fries?).  Yay or nay?  Do you do Fish Fry's?  Do you like the food?  My menfolk work  at them, and it's such a penance.  They work really hard for hours.  I don't care for the food---and that's putting it mildly.  I think tonight, I'll do the Stations of the Cross, skip the food, and start a new knitting project.

---7---

I'm done.  Now it's your turn for the 7th Quick Take.  Tell me what you're up to this weekend, or what you're knitting, watching, or reading!  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Join the fun at Jen's for more 7 Quick Takes!

What Do You Do for Lent?

Ash Wednesday is tomorrow!  Did you know that?  I'm always surprised by the number of people who look at my ashes and say, "Oh, is today Ash Wednesday?  I need to go get my ashes!"  Not to be uncharitable or judgmental (which means I'm totally going to be), but why do you want ashes if you don't go to Mass often enough to know that Ash Wednesday is coming?  I really just don't understand.  I'm not judging their hearts; I can't; I just don't get it.  I'm actually happy they want to go, and maybe the priest giving the homily will be the messenger of the Holy Spirit.

I've been talking with my youngest two about what they're planning.  I guess they're growing up, and all the things we've done in the past they're getting too big for.  Sad.  They just want to make their own sacrifices without my telling them what to do.  

I have made a couple of strong suggestions, like:

• Immediate Obedience (because I forget what I told them to do and it doesn't get done!)
• Walking the Dog when he asks to go out, instead of waiting until he's whining and I'm mad.
• No fighting with each other.
• No TV until after dinner.
• Reading Saint books.

They are going to have a couple of sacrifices that they didn't choose, though:  

We're going to go to Mass a lot more.

No sweets---I'm not buying or making any, even on Sundays.

Here are a few other ideas:

• Crown of Thorns (we will do this because it's a good centerpiece reminder and the kids still like pulling out the thorns)
• Jesus Tree /Lenten Readings
• Catholic Family Bootcamp

So, what am I doing, you ask?  

• Daily Mass as much as possible.
• 33 Days to Morning Glory Marian consecration retreats every Saturday a.m. to prepare for consecration on April 8 (the date of the Annunciation this year).  I've put together a small group of ladies to do this with, and I'm so excited!
• I'm giving up all grains and sugar.  And yes, there is an ulterior motive here (or two):  weight loss and health.  For years, I've been reluctant to give up foods for Lent because it comes with those ulterior motives, so I thought those sacrifices weren't "worthy".  Even if I did give something up, initially, I would cave in at some point during Lent because "it wasn't a good enough sacrifice!" But after reading Simcha Fischer's post the other day, I realized that it's really the devil who doesn't want me to make these sacrifices.  He doesn't care about my health, and he certainly doesn't want me to make a difficult sacrifice and attach prayer to it!  These sacrifices are extremely difficult for me because of the addiction to sugar and wheat, and because I hate, hate, hate being different from everyone else and having other people notice what I'm eating or not eating.  So, there, I said it.  I may not say it again, but you heard it.  ;-)
• And, sometime in the next 12 hours, I'll choose a spiritual book to read.  Most likely, Pope Benedict's Jesus of Nazareth:  Holy Week.  (I think I just picked it. ;-)

So there you have it.  My Plan for Lent.  What's your's?  

Easter Monday-book

FOR TODAY

Happy Easter Monday!

Outside my window...
Bright, sunny, and cool!  It's a practically perfect day.  I wore a sweatshirt and shorts to walk the dog this a.m. and my knees were a little numb by the time I got home.

I am thinking of...and...I am thankful...
For the many graces experienced during this Lent, but mostly during Holy Week.  As usual, I don't think I pulled as many toothpicks thorns from the Crown of Thorns on the kitchen table for making sacrifices, but I did manage to pray more than ever before by virtue of the fact that I did the preparation for Total Consecration to the Blessed Virgin, and that our family increased our daily decade of the rosary by one decade every week until we were doing the whole thing 4-5 days per week.

I don't mean to gloat about how well we did there, because, quite honestly, I don't know what we'll do tonight at prayer time.  I don't know if we have it in us to keep up with the whole rosary daily.  I also know that managing to get in all those prayers and stick with them was a total grace.

Also during this Lent, I asked God for answers, and I got emotional struggles.  I got plenty of temptations that caused heartache.  But peace comes in the strangest ways and at the oddest times.  I wish that He could be more clear in His answers and help, but He doesn't seem to work that way!
 
From the learning rooms...
We have one last day of break today for Easter!  It's a teacher-workday (once I finish my blogging), so I'll get the house back together and see if I can get prepared for a 4-day school week that is followed by a camping trip!

In the kitchen...
I think I'll be eating Primal Coconut Cake all week (or until it's gone).  Leftover ham.  And cheese for my girl who gave up cheese for Lent!

I am wearing...
In addition to the shorts, vibram 5-fingers, and sweatshirt for my walk, I'm wearing a chain (scroll down to the bottom!) given me by my sweet friend Barbara in honor of my Consecration to Mary.  It came on Holy Saturday, and it means a lot to me because I forget my good intentions so easily.  This bracelet is a constant reminder to me.  It's both a reminder for the future, and a confirmation of the graces that I received through Mary during Holy Week. I remembered to ask her repeatedly for help, and she gave it.

I am knitting...
Nada.  I'm starting to feel the strain.  I definitely have something I want to start today if I can get out to the yarn shop!

I am going...
To get some yarn, but otherwise I plan to stay home and organize/clean/plan for the week.

I am reading...
The Truth About Saint Therese.  Not very far into it yet; it sounds like an expose, but it's about getting past the sugary sweet image people have of the Little Flower to the depth of her theology.

I am hoping...
For a productive week!

I am looking forward to...
Our American Heritage Girls campout this weekend!  We're going to a park I've never been to before.  It's supposed to be beautiful, and they're having a special event on this spring weekend (purposefully vague there to prevent your stalking my beautiful girls!)

I am hearing on my ipod...
Did you know there is a podcast called "Novenas" which has tons of recordings of different novenas?  I've downloaded all the days of the Divine Mercy Novena which started on Good Friday.  It's a big help!

One of my favorite things...
Holy Week and Easter.  I will admit to not loving it when my kids were little because it's such a marathon, but really walking through the passion with Christ during those days, and "entering into the mystery" which sounds rather cliche, but pretty much describes what happens, makes Easter so much better.  It was a little stressful, but I was thrilled to be able to do a lot more singing than usual at Holy Thursday Mass and the Easter Vigil.  For me, singing really is praying twice.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

I actually remembered to get some pictures of the kids before Mass, even though there were 3 missing and these wouldn't stop goofing off, and a neighbor who was in the cul-de-sac thoughtfully came over so I could be in the picture, too.  Amazingly, they shaped up and smiled for her!


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Holy Saturday

Yesterday was such a beautiful day!  A lazy day in many respects.  I didn't do any cooking and only the most minimal straightening around the house.

We started the day...late...by watching The Passion of the Christ.  Tom and I wanted to see it, as did Meg.  Obviously, she closed her eyes a LOT for all the demons and hangings and scourging and crucifying!  I especially wanted her to see the flashbacks which I think are so beautiful.  Pip didn't particularly want to watch it, but it's mesmerizing, I guess, and he watched a lot....and watched with his eyes closed, too.  

After that we had time to straighten up and get dressed for Stations of the Cross at 3:00.  Gorgeous day for the outdoor stations on the river next to the church!  It was extremely moving for me, unlike any other Stations I've prayed before.  I don't know if it was the culmination of a half-way decent Lent, or having just watched the Passion, so it was all fresh in my mind.  I didn't even mind kneeling outdoors on my bare knees.

I think this Lovely Lady had so much to do with my grace-filled Lent this year!

 After Stations, we went into the Church for Day 1 of the Divine Mercy Novena, followed by a hunger meal in the family center.  We were able to visit with a couple of our favorite deacons while they ate, and then we just hung out in the church library for an hour or so until it was time for the evening service.

It was after 8:30 by the time we got home and everyone snacked before bed and unwound a bit.  Today, I'm sort of paying for doing "nothing" yesterday (or all week), and I have cooking, baking, cleaning and decorating to do.  Oh, and a little music rehearsal.  But that's okay because today is a day of waiting...waiting for the glorious resurrection.

Have a Blessed Holy Saturday!

Good Friday

Take the time to watch and listen to meditate on this beautiful video on Good Friday.  You won't be sorry.

Have a blessed day!

The Triduum

Blogging has definitely been sparser than usual around here because I've been staying away from the computer a bit more, and now we're on spring break.  It has still been a full week so far.  

Music is mostly taking up my time---I had an extra rehearsal Sunday afternoon, then another 2 hours on Tuesday, and our regular choir rehearsal last night which was exhausting.  What makes it so exhausting is that we're doing things very differently from past years with our new pastor and choir director.  Very few of the old standards and lots of new Psalm settings (which we received very late in the season) add up to a lot of extra work and worry.

Ever since my Total Consecration to the Blessed Virgin, I've been wondering, "What now?" I haven't done a lot of research, but I also didn't see anything in the book about how to live my life now.  Are there certain prayers I'm supposed to say?  Besides the rosary, that is.  So, it came to me that I could offer her all my worries and fears about choir, and ask for her prayers, and let her comfort me.  It helped a lot yesterday, and last night.  I still didn't sleep through the night (for the 3rd night in a row), but when I was awake and thinking about singing tonight, my heart wasn't pounding and my stomach wasn't in knots!

I'll be glad when tonight is over.  I'm glad I don't have to sing on Friday, but there's still the long Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday to get through.  Being involved in Church music certainly gives one lots to offer up during these last few days of Lent!

I hope you are having a peaceful, prayerful Triduum.  It's a Lenten marathon, but it's so beautiful to experience these 3 days with Christ.  Even when you've had a less-than-stellar Lent, the Triduum makes it all better.

God bless!  See you in Easter!

Would you like little cheese with that whine?

All that peace of a couple of weeks ago has evaporated.  It's busy around here, and I'm tired.  The house is cluttered, and I'm tired.  My head is full of negative self-talk, and I'm tired of it. It could be that the busy, clutter, negativity, and tiredness are all caused by the same thing:  painting and reorganizing our library.  Or it could be Lent.  You decide.

Last Saturday, I had finally had enough.  The ladder was still out, and I had a free Saturday with the help of my dear Katie to start painting.  Even though we were going to take it slowly and paint "one wall at a time,"  after 2 walls, we realized everything else had to come out of the room so it could be finished or it would drag on for weeks.  We had to empty 2 seven-foot-tall bookcases that were overloaded with books, move them, paint, and put them back in new spots.  We also had to move out the computer armoire to replace it with the goodwill desk that also needed to be painted.

Ugh.  The painting is all done and the furniture is in place, but the ladder is still out, and so is a bunch of stuff we removed from the armoire.  It all needs new homes, or to find its way to the trash.

All this clutter really affects my thinking; I do so much better with clear spaces (so you'd think I'd be better at maintaining them, right?).  I decided to get out of the house yesterday when my afternoon was free-ish (ignoring the ladder, right?) to do a little shopping.

Why, oh why, does shopping for clothes have to be so demoralizing?  Why can't stores light their dressing rooms the way I light my home?  Or is that the way I really look to everyone else? Why can't they have funhouse mirrors that make everyone look thin?  And subdued lighting that makes your skin glow while eliminating fine lines and wrinkles?

I'm deep into the Total Consecration to Mary prayers these days.  A good 45 minutes of prayer/reading daily, including the rosary.  It's hard to get it all in.  Yesterday, I prayed at adoration, and you would not believe the negative, uncharitable thoughts that were going through my head during the rosary.  Right there in front of Jesus!

Tell me that this is Lent and the Consecration prayers.  It's not me.  I'm not the Loser Satan is telling me I am.  I'm not the Loser I'm telling me I am.  {Not that you'd know, because most of you don't know the real me, just the online me.  But you can tell me, anyway.  Maybe I'll listen.  ;-)  }  Everything is a struggle, right now, and I want to quit all my activities/responsibilities because I'm not good enough.

Ugh.

Cast your vote for the cause of my problems:  Lent or Library!

Lenten Daybook

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...
It's cloudy and moist.  It's a perfect Lenten day.

I am thinking...
About how God takes your Lenten sacrifices and intensifies them (if you were on the right track to begin with) or just changes it up altogether.  Which one has happened to you this week?

I am thankful...
I am always thankful for the seasons that the Church in Her wisdom gives us, expecially Lent which offers this intense, prayerful retreat before Easter.

From the learning rooms...
We've added Ablaze: Stories of Daring Teen Saints to our daily reading.  The stories are hard to read in one sitting because they're long, but we're enjoying it so far!

I am wearing...
Old jeans and a cozy sweatshirt which are perfect for a drizzly day.  No earrings and less makeup as I seem to have given them up for Lent.  I attach a lot of importance to the right earrings for the day and the outfit.  It's a little thing, but it means a lot to me to give them up.  I'm also wearing less makeup (no foundation).  I figure if I go entirely without people will ask why I look sick or tired, which is a conversation I don't want to have, so I'm just wearing less.  Not that I usually wear a lot anyway.

I am knitting...
I started a little sock yarn shawl, but haven't worked on it much yet.  I finished the bulk of my homeless sleeping mat yesterday and I just need to add shoulder straps to them and I'm ready to give them away!

I am going...
Nowhere today except to pick up late this afternoon after school

I am reading...
I have a pile of books to read.  A couple of new ones that were recommended by ladies at the church yard sale this weekend, but I can't read those until I read the 2 scheduled for book club.  Somehow it seems as if I should have given up book club for Lent and should be focusing on more spiritual works.  Thoughts?

I am looking forward to...
My conversion story is going to be published tomorrow over at Caffeinated Catholic Mama. Stop by if you want to read it.  Naturally, after turning it over to her, I had all kinds of doubts about how it sounded!  It needed to be kept short, so it's naturally a little incomplete. If you're interested, I'll publish a longer version in several parts here, later.

I am hearing on my ipod...
Lots of Jimmy Akin these days.  The Among Women podcast. This local parish has 3 excellent homilies every week by their priests.

Around the house...
Several painting projects waiting to be done; waiting for me to have the time and the inclination.  We got rid of about 8 bags of trash and clothes last week by cleaning out the rooms of just 2 kids.  We donated the good stuff to the annual church yard sale for St. Martin de Porres.  I don't think I came home with as much as I donated....I had to really hold myself back.

One of my favorite things...
Children who awaken feeling industrious and get their independent work done quickly in the morning.  Not that it happened this morning, but I love it when it does!  :-)  I read to them for 45 minutes this morning and my voice is tired, so now I hear them taking turns reading Famous Men of Rome to each other.  Cheerfully, no less.

A few plans for the rest of the week...
I think I'll be singing at a funeral with the choir tomorrow, and it may be the last time I sing with them.  :-(

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

Working on a sleeping mat

Hosted by The Simple Woman's Daybook

That Was Rough!

Yesterday, Ash Wednesday, was a difficult day.  I imagine lots of you had a rough day, too.

When I felt the headache coming on in the morning, I took 2 ibuprofen.  I know from past experience that if I just try to tough it out, it will get worse and ibuprofen won't help at all, and I'll be miserable all day.  Not eating is hard enough without adding a splitting headache to it!

One of the things I gave up for Lent is talking to/yelling at/griping about other drivers.  Wouldn't you know that every. single. time. I was out in the car yesterday (which was a lot) there was a person going 10 miles below the speed limit in front of me?  It gave me lots of opportunities to be reminded of what I gave up.

Mass was difficult yesterday.  It was so hard to pray.

Choir rehearsal was difficult last night---there's so little joy there anymore.  

I really need to pray during this Lent to find out what God's will is in this area.

On the happier side of Ash Wednesday:

I went to a playground with Meg and Pip after Mass, right next to the church, and we discovered that it's not a playground but fitness equipment.  We had fun working out and evangelizing the maintenance guys who wondered why we and others down the road all had smudges on our foreheads!

I got 2 new books in the mail for Lent:

(for the middle schooler and high schooler)

and

(for the kids and myself)

I heard/saw lots of good reviews for these books and thought they would be a nice addition this year.  Ablaze has lots of saints that I have never heard of, so we'll have to read that together!  And Welcome Risen Jesus is on a higher level than I expected based on judging this book by it's cover and $1.99 price tag!  I think it will be well worth the money---even more, in fact.

I did not give up blogging or reading blogs for Lent, but I'll try to keep my posts on a higher level when I'm here.  I did give up reading the many blogs that don't "feed" me.  I'm not unsubscribing, just daily going through my reader and marking as read posts/blogs that I read for fun not formation.  Decorating or organizing blogs, for instance.  I'm skipping those in favor of the bloggers that regularly touch my life in a more meaningful way.

Finally, I decided to renew my consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary which we had done several years ago.  I was at the mechanics getting an oil change, and listening to an awesome podcast---Pat Gohn's Among Women---which was all about getting ready for Lent.  She and her guest, Mary Lou Rosien, were talking about Catholic Family Bootcamp, which sounds great for Lent or any other time of the year.  I don't think you have to purchase it, you can do the daily task on the website if you want.

Anyway...I was talking about the Total Consecration to Mary....because while I was sitting there with my preparation book in my purse, I thought, "There must be an app for that!"  And there is!  I can't find a link for it right now, but I found it easily on my phone by searching "total consecration".  It's only $.99 and it has a counter which starts the first time you open the app, but you can change it if you already started the prayers, or if you want to start later.  It gives you your daily prayers so you don't have to flip through the book to find them, and you can have it with you if you unexpectedly have free time where it would be good to do the prayers!  I love it.

Well, those are some of the highlights and lowlights of my Ash Wednesday.  How did yours go?

Have a blessed Lent!

Lenten Preparation

It was such a bonus that yesterday was a holiday---we should always have a holiday on the Monday before Ash Wednesday because we can use that time for making preparations that generally get left until the last minute Ash Wednesday.

I was able to go around the house and gather the items we've collected over the years for Lent.

I got a bunch of our Fr. Lovasik books that are suitable for the season.  I gathered up all the blessed palms from around the house---we'll either deliver them to the church today for burning, or burn them ourselves tomorrow.

I found my Lenten front-door wreath and the "crown of thorns".  Would you believe I left the bowl of stained toothpick "thorns" on top of the refrigerator for an entire year???  The children filled the wreath with thorns this morning, and I'm happy to say they felt a little guilty putting thorns in Jesus's crown.  So, we had a little teachable moment about how we need to make reparation and remove the thorns during Lent.

I found our Lenten calendar and the box full of "ornaments" to go with the daily Bible readings.  I'm pretty sure I got all the ideas and the scripture readings from Shower of Roses.  Oh, yes, look here.

We're all set except for pinning down some of those sacrifices.  I'll keep you posted!

Quiet Time

It has been a busy week here with household stuff, repairmen, delivery men, the installation and painting of our new front door.  And of course, the usual business of educating my children and taking care of the family.

More stuff to do as we prepare for Easter and pray through the Triduum.  It's like a marathon, these last few days of Lent.  If you were a miserable failure all through Lent (like yours truly!), there is still lot and lots of praying and sacrificing you can do between now and Sunday.

That's what I'll be doing:  immersing myself in the fasting and feasting and the prayer of the Church.

Have a blessed Triduum and I'll see you on Easter Monday!