Father’s homily on March 7, 2010

I meant to post this some time ago, but life has been a little crazy.  Real life was being lived.  Anyway, the simple, but powerful words of this homily keep entering my thoughts and pushing me toward something. 

We are always thrilled to be able to participate in the Mass at St. Mary’s.  I always learn something during the homily.  Father Wilhelm’s homily this particular Sunday – March 7, 2010 during Lent -- has really stuck with me.  The points he made kept popping into my head throughout the following week, and have kept at me.  (But do you think they could all pop into my head at one time to share with you???  NO!  So, this post has been written over a few days…and now months.)  Even though it’s the Easter season, his points are still relevant.  I should still be trying to accomplish these suggestions.

1. Pray.  If you aren’t at a different place in your spiritual life than you were two years ago, you need to do something different.  Yes, there are times of darkness … a week, a month, sometimes a year or more, but don’t give up on prayer.

2. Make an ACT.  At the time of his homily, Father meant an act of sacrifice or giving for Lent.  But, why not try to do this every day.  I can do a small sacrifice or give something of myself each day.  It doesn’t have to be much … maybe taking the time to read a book to Graham or making Zeke an egg-in-the-hole for breakfast when I’d rather make one for myself instead.

3. Attend Mass outside of Sunday at least once each week.  This one is particularly hard for me … with five kids … every week.  Part of it is the 20 min. drive to church, the other is the time (and sometimes location) of daily mass.  I know, excuses, excuses.  What are we here on earth for?? … yes, yes, I get that.  I’m praying for my answer/solution to be made clear.

Anyway, I don’t want to forget to try.

Spring Cleaning at the Blog

Got the Spring Cleaning Bug and am making some changes to my blog look ... please bear with me as I figure this out.  Seems that each time I want to do a little changing, it takes me forever because I've forgotten what I've learned about HTML and then so many updates have occurred that I'm 'behind the times.'  But, change was needed ... it was still snowing on my blog this morning and the snow is gone in real life...

Movin’ Up

… in car seats.  I tried to hold off on this move as long as possible, but Baby Louis is just ounces away from 22lbs, which is the max on the infant carrier we own.  I ordered a convertible seat a couple weeks ago, and Monday night was his first ride in the new seat.  It’s comfy for him and he can see out and around well.  Of course, that means I carry him out to the vehicle and into any store/location at which we may stop.  Granted, he’s lighter without the car seat, but this change definitely adds to the ‘time needed to prepare for leaving.’  I think it’s time to consolidate my purse & the diaper bag.

*The angle of this pic is just terrible.  No matter which way I display the picture, he looks uncomfortable.  But he honestly wasn’t uncomfortable and took a nap to and from dance – 70 miles one way.

Outdoor time

Last night, the whole family went out after supper to create an outside pen for the hens.  Again, it’s crudely constructed, but we got it done in less than 2 hours and were back in the house in time for the kids’ bedtime.  I didn’t get pictures of this process and that’s probably a good thing … you’d be able to see –forever—our disordered construction process!



We didn’t let the hens out last night, so this morning, the kids and I went out early to let them out.  That’s 7:45a and I needed to coax Graham out of bed – didn’t take much to encourage him once he realized we’d be letting the hens outside.  The morning was cool and windy, but the hens came out right away and started pecking away at the grass and exploring the area.
 
 
 

No more white…

I refuse to buy white socks for my kids – after they are at the stage of walking and wearing rubber boots.  This rule used to encompass only the boys, but I’m extending it to all kids, now.  We just have too much mud and muck for me to mess around with white.

 

I have found that if I buy black or dark socks, I’m a better person.  I don’t worry about stains on dark socks because I don’t HAVE to worry about stains on black (or dark) socks.  The sight of stained white socks just gets me livid.

 

If we buy white socks, they only stay white from the time they are taken out of the bag until the first wearing … why bother!!  I don’t like bleaching because it shortens the ‘life’ of the fabric, requires repeated soaking (may be effective or maybe not), and it makes the socks feel stiff and rough.  Not sure what’s in our mud, but it’s special because it does. not. come. out. 

 

SO, I AM DONE WITH WHITE SOCKS!!!

  Anyone else feel this way??

Monday DayLook – April 12, 2010

For Today: April 12, 2010

 

Looking out from my back porch... dark blue skies, slightly overcast, but the sun is trying to poke through.  It sprinkled earlier and looks like it will later, too.

 

I am thinking about… change.  Baby kittens born over the weekend, laying hens out in the coop, baby chicks coming in a couple weeks, baby Louis rolling over and moving around on his tummy, Spring planting to begin within the week, sheep (kids’ 4-H project) to arrive within the month … lots of change!

 

I am thankful for... health.  I continue to say this, but we have just been so remarkably healthy.  Being healthy allows us to travel, see friends, take care of the animals, and get schoolwork done in a timely manner.

 

I am reading… ‘Backyard Poultry’ magazine!  Our first issue arrived last week and it was so fun to read.  I learned a lot from just this issue and can hardly wait for the next.

I am hoping... for moderate weather during Spring planting.

 

I am hearing... Baby Louis playing with a crinkly fabric ball.

 

I am wearing… grey sweats with a green ls shirt.

 

From the sewing/craft room (aka. laundry room!)… nothing yet today, but the sound of the washing machine WILL be heard later this morning.

 

From the school room... pretty quiet, as Zeke and Angelina are done with their subjects for the day.  Dash is completing school work in his room this week – part of our Scholarship Improvement Plan (SIP).

 

From the kitchen... my clicking on the laptop keyboard, which will turn to sounds of bread-making as soon as this is posted!  I’d also like someone (besides me) to make a snack today … bars and cookies are a snack, right??

 

State of the house… it’s definitely Spring because the dust piles up faster than dirty laundry.

 

A successful moment… last week, on my shopping trip with my sis, I FOUND something cute (it matches a skirt and pants I already own) to wear for Spring.  Not quite in time for Easter, but I have a few occasions coming up in April and May.

 

A few plans for the rest of the week…
Monday: Angelina’s dance lessons; grocery shopping, bit of lesson planning.

Tuesday:  I’d like to plan the garden and order seeds today.

Wednesday: Possible trip to Valley City or Jamestown.

Thursday:   Angelina is modeling for an Apron Show presented by her Grandma Green Acres.

Friday/Saturday/Sunday:   4-H club meeting at our house & the county is sponsoring a 4-H bowling party.

A picture wish & it’s a memory, too …

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These photos were all from June, 2009.

L: Clematis and rose bush

C: Herbal Mary Garden

R: Day lilies