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Monday, August 13, 2012

Catholic Woman's Almanac: Almost Not Sick

::embracing gratitude

Husband and children who can pick up the slack as I recover from a stubborn cold.
Happy, good things happening in my sister's life.
A wonderful soccer coach for Carmen. Really wonderful.

::this moment

Waking everyone up, eating breakfast. We will probably step lightly into schooling next week, since Maddy's college classes begin. So we establish a good morning rhythm this week with everyone up early. We'll see how it goes.

::this week

Soccer, TKD...sigh. The busy begins. I still need to sign Kay and Aggie for dance. Happily, it turns out there are classes that dovetail one after the other at each of their levels in the same afternoon.

We'll have a day at a local waterpark on Thursday with all the cousins.

I am determined to make the most of these days. No slacking. 

::reading

My library on the Venice book expired. I will have to renew before I pick that up again. I was really enjoying it. Fascinating bit of history about a city I love.

Still reading In the Garden of Beasts.

Adding in soon, thanks to Elizabeth 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess .

I also think I want to get my hands on Beauty in the World: Rethinking the Foundations of Education.

::pondering

What it means to be "real" on the internet? How do I approach sharing joy and grace tempered with the reality that sometimes I'm feeling anything but. I'm thinking it comes down to who do I hold responsible? In other words, when there are those moments in my life when I feel very human, broken and sinful, do I look closely at myself to find the source of the problem? Or do I assume that I fail because everyone else around me just keeps messing up? The "if only's". If only I had a bigger home, a more attentive husband, neater children and on and on it goes. When I want to share the reality of my day (here. facebook, twitter), am I sure to temper it with a healthy dose of humility and charity? Do I keep in mind that some things are just private? Am I building the Kingdom of God?

::praying

Students everywhere and their teachers.

::liturgy

Feast of the Assumption on Wednesday.

::kitchen

Since soccer did not sneak up on me this week, I at least have meals planned for when I will be out late this week. Can I tell you again how happy I am to have teens that can cook?

::creating

Finishing up a scarf for Maddy that I started, um, a LONG time ago. It is the easiest darn thing to knit, just have to give it time. Olympic closing ceremonies and various soccer and basketball games were very fruitful this weekend.

::school room

Still working on those plans. I really must have things ready to just pull out and go, and this is where I tend to really fail. Lots of tedious advance work, but ti will bear so much good fruit.

Joining these lovely ladies at Suscipio.

Monday, August 6, 2012

Early Evening Alamanac

Why not?

::embracing gratitude

Watching soccer with Carmen
Our team winning in a hard fought game
Husband home early to watch too, because he loves how much she loves it

::this moment

Heh, really should be working hard on the other part of dinner

::this week

Soccer makes an early return since Carmen was invited to join a team in a tournament over Labor Day weekend.
Tae Kwon Do for Anna.
School planning and more school planning.
Cleaning and declutterering (probably not a word).
Hoping for a pool day with my sister and her darlings.

::reading
In the Garden of Beasts
City of Fortune: How Venice Ruled the Seas
Heal My Heart Oh God (need to see where this might be available from, I got it long time ago)

::pondering

Of course, we have been watching the Olympics. I am struck over and over how amazing these athletes are. They reach deep into themselves and give it everything they have. If only I could bottle this drive and apply it to living a Christian life for just one day. Then I am reminded it is bottled. It is grace. He gives it freely and abundantly. I am courageous enough to receive it? Let it change me? Tone my soul and pull those lazy spiritual muscles into shape?

::praying

A FB friend asking for prayers for her mother
Courtney Lenaburg
A missionary friend
Teens struggling to live courageous Christian lives in a very damaged culture

::kitchen

I will get back to dinner ;) Tonight we will have spaghetti squash with homemade bolognese sauce topped with mozzarella cheese and a big green salad.
I admit I am intrigued by eating Paleo. That may be because I have seen some really delicious looking recipes. Also, is am curious about seeing if long term this may be the best way to feed my diabetic husband.

::quick off topic

Want on earth has gotten into my 3 year old. He is bouncing around the kitchen like one of those crazy bouncy balls.

::creating

I went through all my knitting projects that have been um, well, just laying there on needles for way too long. I just undid a whole bunch and committed to finishing the ones I really love. I have plans
for some surprises, but I must finish at least one thing before I order any more yarn.

This weekend brought me new insight into why sewing your own clothes is a tremendous skill. Carmen wanted a new dress. After wandering through the offerings of some local stores, we were feeling very dejected. Just awful. Ugly and cheaply made. We are turning to mini-Boden or Tea online this time around. But really, after looking at some fabrics online, knowing that for the yardage I probably need, it would cost almost half to make a truly beautiful dress....well, I feel almost guilty about that sewing machine I never seem to touch anymore. I just find it so hard to get over this inertia. Perhaps I need to call Elizabeth for some inspiration.

::school room

Plans, plans, plans!

Joining these lovely ladies at Suscipio.