Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Friday, February 22, 2013
The Power of a Good Book
Today most of the children attended the home school Lenten retreat at our parish. It was amazing. Over 170 children from preK up to high school. Truly a labor of love for the creative moms that brought it together.
I brought Johnny along. He has not been in any play groups or preK classes or activities before. When he was smaller I found that he sometimes quickly became overwhelmed in some settings with lots of strangers and noise and just too much going on for him to handle. Sometimes he would just shut down and cling to a parent or big sibling. Sometimes he would cry and tantrum. But I decided to give this a try today since I would be able to stay with him and help him out.
Sure enough, we walked into the room with the other little children and his body stiffened. He did not want to color. He did not want to listen. He did not want me to leave his side. He did not want to be there. Period. I sighed. I whispered to him that I would be right there, that I knew he would have fun if he gave it a chance, all he needed to do was try. Poor little man had the sourest look on his face. But he sat. Stiff, not coloring.
Then the leader took out a book. I smiled. I knew things would be fine. The Very Hungry Caterpillar. His absolute favorite. He knows it by heart. When he saw the book I saw him turn his body to face the front. He looked up. His face softened, and I tell you, I could visibly see his body relax. He started to smile and mouth the words as she read. By the end of the book he was grinning, eager to see what other "stuff" he would learn and do.
Just like that. Almost instantly. The words and pictures of a familiar and beloved story change the day for my son. Amazing. Wonderful. Powerful.
I brought Johnny along. He has not been in any play groups or preK classes or activities before. When he was smaller I found that he sometimes quickly became overwhelmed in some settings with lots of strangers and noise and just too much going on for him to handle. Sometimes he would just shut down and cling to a parent or big sibling. Sometimes he would cry and tantrum. But I decided to give this a try today since I would be able to stay with him and help him out.
Sure enough, we walked into the room with the other little children and his body stiffened. He did not want to color. He did not want to listen. He did not want me to leave his side. He did not want to be there. Period. I sighed. I whispered to him that I would be right there, that I knew he would have fun if he gave it a chance, all he needed to do was try. Poor little man had the sourest look on his face. But he sat. Stiff, not coloring.
Then the leader took out a book. I smiled. I knew things would be fine. The Very Hungry Caterpillar. His absolute favorite. He knows it by heart. When he saw the book I saw him turn his body to face the front. He looked up. His face softened, and I tell you, I could visibly see his body relax. He started to smile and mouth the words as she read. By the end of the book he was grinning, eager to see what other "stuff" he would learn and do.
Just like that. Almost instantly. The words and pictures of a familiar and beloved story change the day for my son. Amazing. Wonderful. Powerful.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Back to Life
Let's catch up, shall we?
Eleanor Marian was born December 19, 2012 a week after I turned 40. I don't know why I point that out. Except that the day she was born, as I was being checked into the hospital, all the nurses kept saying happy birthday. And I was like, what??? Oh yeah.
She is darling. Hates the car. Quite a bit. However, we drove to Philadelphia yesterday (3 hours) for my nephew's baptism, and she did great. The twenty minute drive to take my husband his work badge this morning because he forgot it and he MUST have it (yes, it was that kind of Monday), not so great. Go figure.
Mara, my almost two year old, loves Ella. Quite a bit. I was worried about how she would deal with a new little person stealing some of her spotlight. Silly me. I look forward to my girlies growing in friendship.
I have an 18 year old now. That happened a month before I turned 40. That is all I have to say about that.
And this week her sister will be 17. Lord have mercy.
I have a new nephew (see above) AND a new niece. In a period of about 90 days, my parents welcomed 3 new grandchildren. Amazing. Yesterday, at my sister's house, we took a picture of ALL the grandchildren on the stairs. All 18. Wow. God is good.What else is there to say?
Eleanor Marian was born December 19, 2012 a week after I turned 40. I don't know why I point that out. Except that the day she was born, as I was being checked into the hospital, all the nurses kept saying happy birthday. And I was like, what??? Oh yeah.
She is darling. Hates the car. Quite a bit. However, we drove to Philadelphia yesterday (3 hours) for my nephew's baptism, and she did great. The twenty minute drive to take my husband his work badge this morning because he forgot it and he MUST have it (yes, it was that kind of Monday), not so great. Go figure.
Mara, my almost two year old, loves Ella. Quite a bit. I was worried about how she would deal with a new little person stealing some of her spotlight. Silly me. I look forward to my girlies growing in friendship.
I have an 18 year old now. That happened a month before I turned 40. That is all I have to say about that.
And this week her sister will be 17. Lord have mercy.
I have a new nephew (see above) AND a new niece. In a period of about 90 days, my parents welcomed 3 new grandchildren. Amazing. Yesterday, at my sister's house, we took a picture of ALL the grandchildren on the stairs. All 18. Wow. God is good.What else is there to say?
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
On Preparing
Hmmm, I see I have not posted since August. Sheesh. I am just really bad at this blog thing.
Still, here I am.
Advent is nearly upon us. This Advent I find myself preparing to welcome a new baby, due December 27. Because of my history of some slight complications it could be anytime in the 2-3 weeks prior.
When my son was born on December 26, nearly 4 years ago, it was a surprise. He was not due until February. But complications (yes, the same ones that may pop up again in the next few weeks) called for induction at 34 weeks. We managed with quite a bit of grace to adapt and care for my tiny little boy. We were blessed with the miracle of a mere couple of hours in the NICU and a baby healthy enough to come home with me 2 days later. I kept him so close the next 2 months, I think I barely put him down.
This time, I can plan. I really love preparing my heart and home for the Christ child and I this year I really love the parallels with preparing our home for a new little girl. We have created new spaces for older children, moved some middle children around and in the next few days, my current "baby" (18 months old) will share a room with some big sisters. I admit, I am going to miss my sweet Mara. I think her Papa will too.
Advent will be simple. Christmas will be simple. Our time as a family will likely be mostly centered in the warmth and quiet of our home around a newborns, our daughter and the Prince of Peace. Perfect.
Still, here I am.
Advent is nearly upon us. This Advent I find myself preparing to welcome a new baby, due December 27. Because of my history of some slight complications it could be anytime in the 2-3 weeks prior.
When my son was born on December 26, nearly 4 years ago, it was a surprise. He was not due until February. But complications (yes, the same ones that may pop up again in the next few weeks) called for induction at 34 weeks. We managed with quite a bit of grace to adapt and care for my tiny little boy. We were blessed with the miracle of a mere couple of hours in the NICU and a baby healthy enough to come home with me 2 days later. I kept him so close the next 2 months, I think I barely put him down.
This time, I can plan. I really love preparing my heart and home for the Christ child and I this year I really love the parallels with preparing our home for a new little girl. We have created new spaces for older children, moved some middle children around and in the next few days, my current "baby" (18 months old) will share a room with some big sisters. I admit, I am going to miss my sweet Mara. I think her Papa will too.
Advent will be simple. Christmas will be simple. Our time as a family will likely be mostly centered in the warmth and quiet of our home around a newborns, our daughter and the Prince of Peace. Perfect.
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.
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.
::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.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
A Very Hot Day in the Middle of a Very Hot Week
It is hot.
So hot.
We are cool and comfortable inside (though I shudder to think what the electric bill will look like this month). But, oh my, everyone is still CRANKY. Even me. The constant background noise of bickering and sniping is almost unbearable.
So now, little ones and medium ones are painting, for the moment forgetting that it too hot to safely play outside and the pool feels like a giant lukewarm bath.
Tomorrow I think I will make some scented playdough and pull out all our fun tools and cookie cutters. I will come up with something fun for Saturday, which will be the hottest day of all. I will be ever so grateful for electricity and air conditioning and refrigeration.
Aaaannddd I will absolutely get a plan for some simple fun schooling to get us through the very hot days.
So hot.
We are cool and comfortable inside (though I shudder to think what the electric bill will look like this month). But, oh my, everyone is still CRANKY. Even me. The constant background noise of bickering and sniping is almost unbearable.
So now, little ones and medium ones are painting, for the moment forgetting that it too hot to safely play outside and the pool feels like a giant lukewarm bath.
Tomorrow I think I will make some scented playdough and pull out all our fun tools and cookie cutters. I will come up with something fun for Saturday, which will be the hottest day of all. I will be ever so grateful for electricity and air conditioning and refrigeration.
Aaaannddd I will absolutely get a plan for some simple fun schooling to get us through the very hot days.
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