If It's Not One Thing It's Another

And Sometimes It's Everything All at Once.

A little background:
1. The plumbing in our house seems a little odd. Last year we had a problem where the water that was coming from the garbage disposal or the dishwasher was backing up into the sink in the basement bathroom. We got that cleared and then the water wouldn't drain out of the kitchen sink. After we exhausted all do-it-yourself possibilities we called a plumber and everything worked again.

2. A couple of months ago we started having water pressure problems in the kitchen sink. Just the kitchen sink. Taking the faucet apart revealed - not much. It seemed to be a build-up of sediment. So two weeks ago we bought a new faucet and put it in.

3. During the rainstorm last week we got water in our basement and had to toss the rug we had down there. We bought a new one yesterday at Walmart.

Okay - that's the background. Now to yesterday and today.

Yesterday:
The new faucet in the kitchen - no water pressure. Can't be a build-up of sediment in a week? Can it?

So after we laid the new rug down in the basement, my husband took the sink apart to see if he can discover the problem. The problem is what looks like pieces of a water filter coming through the pipes (as far as we know we have no water filter on the pipe.) He cleaned it out and put it back together again.

He moved stuff back onto the new carpet downstairs - so he could get to the downstairs bathroom. Discovered that the sink was filled with dirty water. Looked like the dishwasher drained into it.

He emptied it and poured drain cleaner down it.

Now Today:
While I was out, he ran the dishwasher and then went to cut the grass. When he finished the grass he went downstairs and discovered that the dishwasher had overflowed the bathroom sink and flooded the basement.

Of course the new rug is wet.

So we went out and got some drain opener. While taking it out of the car, it leaked, and got all over his hands. He washed his hands, went downstairs, and discovered that the water he'd just put down the kitchen sink was now in the sink downstairs. So - no using the kitchen sink for awhile.

He got the bathroom sink flowing again - so I could use the kitchen sink (not sure I trust the dishwasher yet.) And then he went out.

He came back to tell me that there is something very strange wrong with his car (the fan won't turn off, even when the car is off) and when he went to use the sink - guess what - there was no water pressure.

He's working on the car problem - and the water pressure returned (at least temporarily.)

I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.

Or maybe I can.

Good Night, Sweet Prince

Harry hates to go to sleep. He does whatever he can to avoid it. That usually means that he doesn't stop physically moving until he is actually asleep. And often it means he doesn't stop talking (or singing) until then either.

He claims he's nocturnal. Maybe he has something there.

Once, a few years ago, he actually sang himself to sleep. He was lying on the floor (he maintained it was more comfortable than his bed - and whatever - I just wanted him to fall asleep - at that point, I didn't care where) and he was singing when I walked past his room. I walked by again about a minute later and he was fast asleep.

But what he really likes is for me to sing to him at night. (This doesn't happen too often). When he was a baby and I'd try to sing to him, he'd put his hand over my mouth. Okay - fine, I got the message. But, now he likes it. And there is one song in particular he likes. "Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ra" - also known as "An Irish Lullaby." I only sing him the refrain, because it's the only part I know. And if I'm not available to sing it to him, he's been known to sing it to himself.

So, I sing him a verse or two when I can, because he's seven years old now - and it won't be long before he won't want me singing to him (just like when he was a baby.)

Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, hush now, don't you cry!
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, that's an Irish lullaby.

The full song can be found here.

A Beautiful Sunday

Yesterday we finally had the kind of day we should have had when the kids were on Spring break. Oh well. Better late than never.

It was such a pleasure to get out and work in the garden, after church. And the kids rode their bikes and then went fishing. After lunch they helped in the yard by cleaning off the little white picket fences that go around our "secret garden." And then they read.

They put the cushions on the lawn chairs and curled up and read their books. Pippi was getting ahead on a school assignment and Harry was reading "Wizard's Hall" by Jane Yolen (which he loves by the way and would recommend to any Harry Potter reader.)

After dinner Pippi and Harry ran around the back yard while my husband and I enjoyed a cup of tea on the deck.

What did we do yesterday? Not much when it comes right down to it - and that's what made the day so wonderful.

Feed My Lambs

My children went fishing today. Just like Peter and the others in the Gospel today.

Okay - it wasn't just like the Gospel. After all, my children weren't in a boat - they were on the banks of the creek. They didn't have nets - but poles equipped with hot dogs for bait. (Hey, it's worked in the past.)

Just like Peter and the others - they didn't catch anything.

Unlike Peter and the others, Jesus did not appear to them and help them out in this matter.

I like this Gospel because it is the one where Jesus gives Peter a chance to redeem himself for his denials on Good Thursday/Holy Friday.

Peter didn't need to earn forgiveness. He was already forgiven. He was forgiven before Christ even died. And he didn't need to learn to feel proper remorse. He was completely sorry for what he had done - from the moment he realized what he had indeed done. What he needed was a chance to prove to Jesus (for his own sake, not Jesus' sake) that he could be trusted; that he didn't mean those horrible denials.

Jesus gives him that chance. Three times he asks Peter "Do you love me?"

And three times Peter answers "Yes, you know I do."

Three times. One for each of the times Peter denied his Lord.

And the Lord gives him a commission. "Feed My Lambs." "Tend My Sheep." "Feed My Sheep."

And Peter does this. He doesn't go back to being a fisherman (as he apparently had given thought to - hence the fishing expedition) instead he continues the work that Jesus called him to three years before. He will be a fisher of men, and tend the sheep.

The flock he's asked to tend are us - everyone. And the great thing is - that we can all share in Peter's job. We can all feed the lambs, tend the sheep. We can do it in big and small ways. We can do it everyday. Every time we act with love toward someone else, we are doing what Jesus asked of Peter.

It was an important assignment. Peter didn't take it lightly. Neither should we.

Poetry Friday

The sun is shining. The birds are singing. It's not raining (which I suppose is related to the fact that the sun is shining). It's going to actually feel like Spring again today, and I wanted to find a poem that expressed that somehow.

And I found this:

Song from Pippa Passes
by Robert Browning

The year's at the spring,
And day's at the morn;
Morning's at seven;
The hill-side's dew-pearled;
The lark's on the wing;
The snail's on the thorn;
God's in his Heaven -
All's right with the world!

I'm going to make sure I enjoy Spring - today - and even into the weekend!

A Laugh for the Day

There's a little Friday Fun over at Mama says.... Go check it out.

Favorite Rosary

Over at The Bird's Nest, a blog I found via my new blog roll, Sharon asked people to post pictures of their favorite rosaries. And I thought, do I take a picture of the rose petal one I use more often, the large wooden one hanging from my bedroom mirror, the beautiful new one my daughter got as a gift from her grandparents trip to the Vatican?

And then I looked up and saw the one I wanted to share. It's a cross-stitch I designed and stitched for my grandmother. Each bead is a ribbon-embroidered flower. After she passed away, I asked if I could have it.

It has a place of honor in the living room, and the palms are placed behind it each year. My son, if he needs help remembering the Hail Mary, will read from it.

So, this is the rosary that I will share.

Blog Roll Please

I've added a blog roll to my side bar. Catholic Mother's Online. I'm happy to be a member and to be a part of something like this. It's nice to know that there is a place to go to read and meet other people who have similar interests (ie: being a mother and being Catholic).

If you want to join, go here.

And please, visit all these wonderful blogs and get to know the ladies who write them.

Tuesday's Proverb

My son, forget not my teaching, keep in mind my commands; For many days, and years of life, and peace, will they bring you. (Proverb 3:1-2)

Saint Bernadette

A few years ago I read The Song of Bernadette by Franz Werfel, and it gave me a new appreciation for this saint. Up until then, I knew that Bernadette was a girl who had Our Lady appear to her at Lourdes. And that was about all I really knew. But this novel made Bernadette very real to me.

Bernadette is honored now as a saint, but when she was living she was not considered very bright - and maybe even a little bit crazy. She was mocked and ridiculed. But she persevered in following Our Lady's instructions and ultimately was honored for it.

Sometimes I find Saints very hard to relate to: stories from the middle ages always have a feel of "Once upon a time" to them and the super good, who founded religious orders, seem far removed from my life experiences.

But Bernadette is a Saint that lived within a more modern time frame. Her visions occurred just a few years before the start of the American Civil War. That makes it a little easier to envision what her life was like. Plus, she was just a normal school girl, trying to make it through her day, when this extraordinary thing happened to her.

Today is the feast day of St. Bernadette Soubirous. May it remind us that we don't have to be extraordinary people to lead extraordinary lives.

On a Positive Note

Due to all this rain, the grass is really turning a lovely shade of green.

And hopefully we won't have to worry about drought warnings this summer.

Rain

Rain, rain, go away.
Come again another day.

Okay - so it's not original. But, I think most people in a good part of the country would agree with me. Enough already.

We had to borrow a sump pump in order to drain our basement.

The kids - after a 10-day Spring Break, now have a "Flood Day."

At least we got Harry's baseball game in on Saturday before the rain started. Wednesday's game is looking doubtful though - unless everyone wears hip boots.

Finding Joy in Life

Over at Sweetness and Light, there's a wonderful post about Finding Joy Everyday. Since that is part of the theme of this blog: finding the happiness in the Simple and Ordinary aspects of life, that I felt I had to share the link.

Divine Mercy Sunday

In 2000, after declaring Faustina a Saint, Pope John Paul II declared that the Second Sunday of Easter will also be Divine Mercy Sunday.

Throughout the world this is becoming a huge event as people flock to churches for Divine Mercy Sunday services.

Our parish ignores it.

But, fine, we found a local parish that had a service today.

Normally, we try not to make the kids sit through extra church services - but this time we made an exception. See, we've been doing the novena. Every day at 3:00 (or as close to it as we can), since Good Friday, we've said the Divine Mercy Novena. It utilizes rosary beads and the prayers are short, so it's not too hard to get the kids to agree to. In fact, they sometimes were the ones reminding us that it was 3:00.

And since we'd done the novena, and gone to confession on the Saturday before Easter, it seemed logical to see things through with the service today.

The service included Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, and the chaplet of Divine Mercy, and a few others prayers and such. It took about an hour, and the kids were good throughout.

I'm glad we did it - for them as well as for us.

It's important to be reminded of God's Mercy, because we all need it. And it's nice to know that God has promised to be merciful with us.

We should remember to be merciful with each other as well.

A Word to the Wise

You know how when you pick up yarn for a project, the packaging warns to buy enough to finish the project.

That's really pretty good advice.

Especially if you're going to put the project off so long, that the brand of green yarn you bought no longer exists. And you desperately need more.

I found a pretty good match though. Only a person with perfect color vision - someone who can differentiate between any hue would be able to tell the difference.

Oh - and did I mention, my husband can do that - differentiate between any hue. He's been tested.

And the blanket is for him.

Figures.

Discovering the Joys of Mindless TV

I was discussing with my husband the other day the fact that our kids really don't watch TV. In fact, as of Wednesday, they had spent the majority of their Spring Break (which has been a little too chilly for too much outdoor fun) reading and playing the piano.

When I was a kid, I watched a lot more TV than they do. I would come home from school and watch The Flintstones, The Brady Bunch, Gilligan's Island. And other shows like that. Maybe these weren't ground-breaking thought-provoking television shows - but they were harmless - and they were fun.

But then, I realized, that Pippi and Harry don't have access to that much good clean TV. think a lot of these shows are still available on TV Land or similar channels. But we don't have cable - or satellite - or whatever. IWe just have a regular TV with an antenna on the roof. We get the broadcast stations and that's it. The kids have plenty of DVDs if they want to see something particular (like Harry Potter).

Enter AOL and it's In2TV site. Through the marvels of modern technology, we have now introduced the kids to the joys of mindless television. Yesterday, for the first time, they encountered Gilligan, the Skipper and the rest of the castaways from Gilligan's Island. They loved it, and watched three episodes. I think they'll be watching more today.

I certainly don't mind them watching some TV. I don't think they'll become TV junkies - partly because I won't let them have access to my laptop for too long. They like reading too much to want to watch TV all the time. But it is nice to have access to something for them to watch that I have no objection to them seeing.

Maybe today, I'll introduce them to the Flintstones.

Tuesday's Proverb

Thus you may walk in the way of good men, and keep to the paths of the just. For the upright will dwell in the land, the honest will remain in it; But the wicked will be cut off from the land, the faithless will be rooted out of it. (Proverbs 2:20-22)

The Tomb is Empty

Several years ago, when my parents went to Jerusalem, my father kept a journal of his experiences. He gave me permission to use parts of it here if I wanted to. I thought his experience at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher would make a good Easter post.

Here it is also that we stand in line for maybe one-half hour or more to get into the Holy Sepulcher, the holiest shrine in Christendom. Our guide, a wonderful Jewish man, tells us, as we wait, that we are about to make a discovery that is the foundation of our faith. We are about to make the same discovery that Peter made 2,000 years ago, and that the two Marys made, and the disciples, and an untold number of pilgrims throughout the ages. We would enter the Tomb and we would find there – nothing. The Tomb is empty – He is not there.

I really didn’t have to travel 7,000 odd miles to find that out. I believed that before I left home. But, actually being there made me KNOW that He is not there. So, why do I, like the apostles, look for the Living among the dead?

He is not there, so He must be someplace else. I can no longer install my God in a tomb, in a shrine, or in a tabernacle and close the door and shut Him safely away until I want to take Him out and worship Him again. No, if there is a message to me from Jerusalem, it is that Jesus Christ is alive; that I don’t have need of signs and wonders, because, if I will only open my eyes. He is visible to me. And, when I see Him, He asks me to love Him wherever I find him as unconditionally as He loves me. That is the message to me from Jerusalem. My challenge is to open my eyes and seeing my God, to love Him where I find Him.
( WVK - March 1990)

And on the lighter side, for another view of Easter, peek back at last year's post when I shared Pippi's story of Easter, told when she was four.

Happy Easter. He is Risen. The tomb is empty.

Holy Saturday

And what did the disciples do on Holy Saturday? I asked my CCD class.

"Nothing," they answered, "it was the Sabbath, they couldn't do anything."

Right. They couldn't do anything but pray and mourn and wonder at what had happened. What was that day like? They were afraid. Afraid for their own lives. They were hiding. They were probably still shocked at the turn things had taken in just a few days. Did they weep? I believe they did. Did argue with each other over whose fault it was? Over what could have been done differently? Did they speak angrily of Judas and how he had betrayed him? Did Peter keep replaying in his mind the time when he denied Jesus, and wished he had done things differently? The probably did all these things.

What they couldn't do was work. They couldn't go out and chop wood or build something or anything that might have left them physically tired and able to sleep with out thinking about the horrible things that had happened.

And they didn't know Easter was coming.

Sure, Jesus had said that he would rise again. Sure, he had said, destroy this temple and rebuild it in three days. But he must have been speaking metaphorically. They had seen his bloody battered body. They knew where it was lying in a cold tomb, behind a rock, guarded by the Romans. Jesus was gone. They were just going to have to get used to that and figure out how to go on from here.

How lucky we are that when we meditate on the Lord's Passion, that we know that Easter is coming. Just a few more days. Only one day left, now that we are up to Saturday. One more day and the Alleluia can ring in our churches again. We can wait one more day, because we know what is coming.

The apostles didn't know that the next day would be Easter.

All they could do was sit and mourn and pray.

Good Friday

When the centurion who stood facing him saw how he breathed his last he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!"(Mark 15:39)

Why do we call Good Friday 'good'?

That was the question one of the students in my CCD class asked me last week. And it was a very good question.

I agree that it does not seem like a very good day. Look at what we commemorate on Good Friday: Jesus going before Pilate and Herod; being mocked and ridiculed; deserted by his followers; beaten; condemned to die; crucified; and finally dying a horrific and ignoble death.

It is a sad day; a day we commemorate sad events.

So, why is it good?

It certainly wasn't good to Jesus' followers who were living through it on that day. They probably thought it was the worst day of their lives. I'd hazard a guess that Jesus himself didn't care too much for that particular day.

But what Jesus did for us that day is what makes the day good. He took all our sins upon himself. He became our sacrificial lamb. He did these things, so we don't have to. And, for us, ultimately, that is good.

It wasn't good that day. It was good later. Because without Good Friday, we wouldn't have Easter. And Easter gives us the promise of everlasting life in God. And that is Good.

When looking for something that summed it all up, all I could think of was the centurion's remarks.

For out of it all; that is what is important.

Truly this man was the Son of God.

Holy Thursday

I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34-35)

A lot happens on Holy Thursday. Jesus celebrates the beginning of Passover with his friends. He washes their feet and reminds them that it is noble to serve others. During the Passover meal he tells his friends that he will not be with them much longer, and institutes the Eucharist by proclaiming that the bread is His body and the wine His blood. He declares that Peter will deny him, and that one of his followers will betray him.

After the dinner he prays, in agony, in the garden, because he knows what is to come.

He is betrayed, arrested and put on trial.

A lot happens that day. And of course instituting the Eucharist is the most significant. We remember that every time we go to Mass.

But, the words above. Ones, quoted in John as having been said during that meal are also of very great significance.

Observant Jews lived by many laws. Laws handed down from God to Moses. Jesus gave them a new one. One, that seems simple, but maybe is harder than all the rest. "Love one another."

It sounds so easy. Much easier than making sure that the food is kosher and that nothing unclean has defiled us before the Sabbath. But is it easier?

Love one another.

Not just those who loved you. That was something Jesus made plain at another time. Anyone can love someone who loves them back. But love everyone. Everyone. All the time.

So, as I go about my day - will people know I am a disciple of Jesus? Some days the answer is yes. Some days, not so much.

On this Holy Thursday, besides remembering all the other significant things that happened on that day, I'll try to remember to obey the rule that Jesus gave us.

How hard can it be?

Things You Didn't Know You Had to Worry About

Because there aren't enough real threats in the world, apparently some people feel that they have to invent threats. I just didn't know we had to worry about wacky home-schoolers! I think maybe it's the school officials who came up with that that we really have to worry about.

Yarn and Hooks

Recently Pippi decided that she wanted to learn how to crochet. So, I gave her a few lessons and she practiced her chain stitches and moved on to single crochet and then decided to tackle a granny square. She's got those double crochet stitches down just fine now - I think we need to work on evening up the sides now. But, looking good so far.

















And of course, Harry couldn't be left out of the equation. He wanted to learn too. He practiced his chain stitches, and then demanded to be taught single crochet. He's making a doll blanket for one of Pippi's dolls (one of the small dolls, I think.) He thinks the doll will be very happy with the blanket. I'm sure it will.

Wanted - A Stereotypical Girl

Pippi has decided that she wants to try a bit of non-fiction. She says that the characters in the last two books she read were too much alike. They were both girls who made a big deal out of their hatred of having to sew (or spin, or do embroidery.)

That got me to thinking. In order to show that the character in a book (of the two she read, one was fantasy and the other historical fiction) is not your 'typical' girl the girl is often depicted as hating to sew, chafing against 'girl' clothes, wanting to be like a boy. And maybe a lot of girls did want that. But, if it's supposed to be against type, shouldn't there be some girls in these books who DO like to sew, or do 'girl' things.

Just a thought. I'm sure the characters are out there - Pippi is just not coming across them (even Laura Ingalls preferred running around to sewing - it was Mary who worked diligently on her nine-patch.)

For the record - the non-fiction book Pippi picked is "The Diary of A Young Girl, by Anne Frank." I don't remember Anne Frank's opinion on sewing.

Novel-ties

Harry was excited that the craft cart was going to be coming around school today. He was anticipating what he was going to buy with his dollar. "I hope they have books," he said.

"I don't think they sell books on the craft cart," I answered.

"Yes," he responded. "It says they have 'novelties.' That's just a big word for novel. Right?"

Sadly, no.

Tuesday's Proverb

Then you will understand rectitude and justice, honesty, every good path; For wisdom will enter your heart, knowledge will please your soul, Discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you; Saving you from the way of evil men, from men of perverse speech, Who leave the straight paths to walk in the way of darkness, Who delight in doing evil, rejoice in perversity; Whose ways are crooked, and devious their paths; Saving you from the wife of another, from the adulteress with her smooth words, Who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the pact with her God; For her path sinks down to death, and her footsteps lead to the shades; None who enter thereon come back again, or gain the paths of life. (Proverbs 2:9-19)

Help Me, I'm Lost

A number of years ago my parents took a trip to Jerusalem. One day they wanted to explore a little without the tour group. They asked the tour guide how to get to a particular spot and he pointed them in the proper direction.
"But," my father asked. "What about coming back, how will we find our way back?"
"Not to worry," the tour guide told them. "If you have trouble, just stop someone and say 'Hoshianna'."
"Hosannah?" My father asked. "Just say, Hosannah?"
"Yes, but you are pronouncing it wrong," the guide said. "It's Hoshianna. It means 'Help me, I am lost.'"

So on this Palm Sunday, as we say Hosannah and remember Jesus' triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem, let us remember what we are really saying to him. "Help me, Jesus. I am lost." And it's a perfect thing to say to Jesus, because after all, who better to help us find our way.

Nice Days

It's been a very nice week. No one was sick. The weather was pleasant. Ahhh. Finally. This is the kind of week I like, the kind where life gets into its groove.

The kids have been taking advantage of the playground across the street. Baseball is the big theme. After all, Harry got his uniform the other day, and the baseball parade, starting the season, is Saturday.

Yesterday, they got their dad to pitch to them for awhile before dinner. He needed a bit of convincing. But a good time was had by all.

And we're supposed to have a nice weekend too.

Trust me, I'm not taking this for granted. I am appreciating every minute of it.

Tuesday's Proverb

For the LORD gives wisdom, from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; He has counsel in store for the upright, he is the shield of those who walk honestly, Guarding the paths of justice, protecting the way of his pious ones. (Proverbs 2:6-8)

Spring has Sprung

And with it's advent last week, we also had a snow storm.

And colds. Bad colds - for me, and Pippi and Harry. My husband was spared.

But now the snow is melted, again, and except for Pippi's lingering cough, the colds are going away and we can get ready for Spring.

Ready for baseball - which starts next week.

Ready to plant the peas I should have planted last week.

Ready to start walking to and from school again and cleaning up the gardens and making the outside someplace I don't just see through a window - but a place to be.

And ready for allergy season.

Sigh.

I'm not ready for allergy season.

But I am ready for Spring.

A robin is scouting out our holly tree for nest possibilities again this year. My perennials are showing green. I've got tulips popping up in the Mary garden, and daffodils ready to burst into bloom.

Yes, I'm definitely ready for spring.

Ask, Then Pay Attention so you Don't Miss The Answer

Once upon a time, many years ago, when I was young, I used to pray to God to send me the perfect boyfriend (and eventually husband, but you need to start somewhere.) I had people in mind and would hope that God would reveal to whatever boy had my interest at the time that he was perfect for me and should maybe notice me.

Things don't always work out the way we think they should.

Which is a good thing.

But God did send me the perfect boyfriend (and eventually husband.) It just took me awhile to realize it.

But one night in College, I was hanging out with a friend, a guy I'd known for a year and a half, -- we'd been talking more lately, getting to know each other a little bit -- when I found myself sitting on his lap, and our foreheads were an inch apart and it seemed like we might kiss.

But we didn't. And the spell was broken and we moved apart.

However, from that moment on we were able to look at each other as more than friends. That was twenty years ago today. We've been married for almost 13 years now. And on that night, so long ago, I feel that God pretty much gave me a little shove - right into my future husband's lap.
It's as if He was saying. "You've been praying for the perfect guy. And here he is, but you don't seem to be getting it - so Get A Little Closer Already."

I'm glad I took the hint.

Tuesday's Proverb

My son, if you receive my words and treasure my commands, Turning your ear to wisdom, inclining your heart to understanding; Yes, if you call to intelligence, and to understanding raise your voice; If you seek her like silver, and like hidden treasures search her out: Then will you understand the fear of the LORD; the knowledge of God you will find. (Proverbs 2:1-5)

A Thought

In church, Saturday night. Harry noticed that a lot of the people there were older. He turned to me and asked. "Do old people believe in Jesus more than young people do?"

Something to think about.

Living Prayer

The Bible tells us we should pray without ceasing. Pray at all times.

Uh huh. Right.

Sounds a bit time consuming. A bit impossible to really pull off.

Nice idea though.

But I was thinking about this. I've long since come to my own private conclusion that this doesn't have to be formal prayer 24/7 - but rather a keeping Christ in mind throughout the day. (I'm not a theologian, and my interpretation may not be the right one, but it works for me.) (A bit of research found this sermon on the subject from 1872 - so it's not that my thoughts are unique here)

Last night, I realized something else though (it's funny how thoughts can hit you when you wake up in the middle of the night): We don't even have to be keeping God in mind. We should of course - but let's see if I can make my middle of the night revelation make any sense in the cold light of day.

When I say a formal prayer - for example an Our Father or Hail Mary - I assume that God is listening to me. If I silently pray to God to help someone or to give me strength - I assume that God is listening to me. Well, here's the thing. Doesn't He have to be listening all the time in order to notice when we are addressing him specifically? We don't only hear our children when they say "Mom" first - we are always tuned into them. And God is always tuned into each and every one of us.

So - following this to it's conclusion: God sees and hears everything we do. I know, we've been told this since we were children - but have you stopped to think about it lately? He doesn't just see us when we are on our knees at church. He sees us doing the laundry. He doesn't just hear us when we pray a formal prayer - or address Him directly - He hears us even when we are engaging in small talk with a friend.

And if prayer is our term for 'speaking to God' - then aren't we always 'speaking to Him' - or more specifically - isn't He always listening.

We pray without ceasing - because our lives are our prayer.

God sees how we live our lives - whether we are thinking about Him or not.

Everything we do and think is part of our prayer to God. Let's make it a good one.

Tuesday's Proverb

Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the open squares she raises her voice; Down the crowded ways she calls out, at the city gates she utters her words: "How long, you simple ones, will you love inanity, how long will you turn away at my reproof? Lo! I will pour out to you my spirit, I will acquaint you with my words. Because I called and you refused, I extended my hand and no one took notice; Because you disdained all my counsel, and my reproof you ignored -- I, in my turn, will laugh at your doom; I will mock when terror overtakes you; When terror comes upon you like a storm, and your doom approaches like a whirlwind; when distress and anguish befall you. Then they call me, but I answer not; they seek me, but find me not; Because they hated knowledge, and chose not the fear of the LORD. They ignored my counsel, they spurned all my reproof; And in their arrogance they preferred arrogance, and like fools they hated knowledge: Now they must eat the fruit of their own way, and with their own devices be glutted. For the self-will of the simple kills them, the smugness of fools destroys them. But he who obeys me dwells in security, in peace, without fear of harm." (Proverbs 1:20-33)

Overall, not the most comforting of bible verses - until you get to the end. "He who obeys me dwells in security, in peace, without fear of harm." Now, that sounds good to me.

It's Done

And the new bathroom is unveiled. To see the before pictures - go here. It took awhile - and honestly it was done a week and a half ago, I just didn't get around to posting a picture before then - but it was totally worth it.

But How did They Know Who They Were?

I've always liked the Gospel story of the Transfiguration. I like that the apostles fall asleep while waiting for Jesus to finish praying - it makes them seem very human. I like that Jesus was conversing with Moses and Elijah - the way that the Old and the New Testaments fit together and form a whole. I like that Peter's first inclination upon awaking and seeing the sight is to build three monuments (somehow I definitely think that if it happened in this day and age a monument would be built.) I like that God speaks to them from a cloud.

But.

I've always had a question.

See, there was no photography back in the first century - or beyond, when Moses and Elijah would have been alive. And the Jews did not allow graven images - so it is unlikely there would have been any paintings or statues of the two men. So - what I've always wondered - is how did Peter, James and John immediately know that they were Moses and Elijah. Why didn't they think - "who are those old guys up there with Jesus? They didn't come up the mountain with us. "

I suppose the logical answer is that God granted them the knowledge.

May God grant us the knowledge we need in our own lives.

Giving Something Up for Lent

I suppose I should have posted this last week - but - oh, well.

Every year I make the kids give up candy for Lent. First of all - it's an easy thing for them to see and notice that they're doing. There have always been exceptions - if they go to a birthday party and get candy - they can have some (but the rest gets saved for the following Sunday.) And we don't keep candy in the house during Lent - that makes it easier too.

But this year, Harry decided that he wasn't going to give up candy for Lent (he still won't get much, because I won't have it in the house - but he feels free to scarf the candy from his birthday goodie bags whenever he feels like it - it will be gone soon). He decided to give up TV for Lent.

Now, I've mentioned before that my kids don't watch much TV. Pretty much just DVDs. And pretty much a DVD only gets watched if Harry puts it in. Pippi very seldom decides to watch anything without being prompted by her brother.

So, I made sure he realized that this meant no Harry Potter DVDs. He did. He was cool with that.

I figured this was fine - but I wouldn't give him a hard time if he lapsed. After all, he's just seven.

Pippi said she would give up TV too. I asked her if she would even think to watch TV if Harry didn't turn it on. She said no. I asked her if that was much of a sacrifice then. She said no. So she's giving up candy (which is a sacrifice for her) and striving to say more prayers at bedtime.

So, Ash Wednesday - we had someplace to be with Pippi and Harry couldn't come. We arranged for him to stay at a friend's house. I figured this would be it for no TV. Certainly the other little boy would watch and so would Harry.

But, No. We get to the house and Harry is busy reading - the family he's staying with is watching American Idol. But he told them that he was giving up TV and wasn't going to watch it. Hmm! I was impressed.

Then at school, his teacher wants to show a video about Abe Lincoln. Harry announces he gave up TV for Lent. His teacher lets him work on something else while the kids watch the video (oh, and his little friend announced that she gave up TV for Lent too, and did the other project with Harry - her mother, when asked, said that he daughter was NOT giving up TV for Lent). Okay. Now, this was impressive. But - um - watching video for school shouldn't really count as TV as far as I'm concerned. But you know what - I'm letting it go. He's making the sacrifice and I'm proud of him.

And as far as giving up things for Lent goes - our priest - at the Ash Wednesday service said that someone asked him if she should give up chocolate for Lent. He said, not if it's going to make you cranky. Give up being cranky instead. Wise words indeed.

Poetry Friday - Cat in the Hat Edition

In honor of the anniversary of The Cat in the Hat - and Dr. Seuss's birthday - I present, for poetry Friday, the lines that I used to repeat to my son all the time - when he would say "Look at me!"

From The Cat in the Hat
by Dr. Seuss

Look at me!
Look at me!
Look at me now.
It's fun to have fun,
But you have to know how!

Poetry Friday round up is at Big A, little a this week.

Tuesday's Proverb

It is in vain that a net is spread before the eyes of any bird -- These men lie in wait for their own blood, they set a trap for their own lives.This is the fate of everyone greedy of loot: unlawful gain takes away the life of him who acquires it. (Proverbs 1:17-19)

Bathroom Update

Progress is being made. We have a toilet now - but no door on the bathroom yet. This requires a bit of improvising - so a sheet has been hung in the doorway. The shower fixtures are in - but there is no shower door yet - so the kids had baths in the new tub today. And the sink has been delayed. But we're getting there. Sure enough, we're getting there.

Poetry Friday

Here's a little original poem, a collaboration between myself and Pippi and Harry as we drove to Basketball practice the other night. It all started because Harry wanted to know what direction we were going. Are we going South? Southeast? West? Northwest? NorthSouth? Hmm - Well, with North South you'd pretty much be vibrating in place. That got Pippi's creative juices flowing and the resulting poem is

Directions

I'm going North South
which means I'm not going any direction at all.

So I'm very confused and I don't know what to do.
I think I'll go Mooo.

Mooo-ve over
said the guy behind me.

I think I'll go East.
Or should I go West?

Decisions, decisions.
They're what I do best.

The Poetry Friday Round-up is over at Blue Rose Girls today.

All the Books in the World

Today would have been my grandfather's 98th birthday, and there are probably enough wonderful stories I could share about him that I could fill up an entire blog, but I'm just going to share one quote.

In November 1983 we taped my grandfather reminiscing about his childhood. My mother (his daughter) asked him the following question: Did you like to read a lot when you were young?

He answered:

Well, I, yes. In this one room school they had a library there. The whole library was in one bookcase. And as far as I knew that was all the books there were. And so I resolved that I was going to read all the books that there were. There was just the one bookcase full there. I thought if I did one a year I could get through it. (laughter from assembled family) I was amazed to find that there were a lot more books than that so I had to give up that idea. I was fairly good in arithmetic and I was fascinated by numbers and fascinated by how numbers kept on building. And I didn't yet get the concept that there was an unlimited number of numbers. And so these numbers, I knew that they kept on going, so I didn't quite know how far they went, so I thought 'well now, I'm going to write them all down and find out how many there are,' (laughter) I know. This was when I was in grade school. I never got that question resolved.

Leo Tanghe (1909-1998)

Tuesday's Proverb

My son, should sinners entice you, and say, "Come along with us! Let us lie in wait for the honest man, let us, unprovoked, set a trap for the innocent;Let us swallow them up, as the nether world does, alive, in the prime of life, like those who go down to the pit! All kinds of precious wealth shall we gain, we shall fill our houses with booty; Cast in your lot with us, we shall all have one purse!"-- My son, walk not in the way with them, hold back your foot from their path! (For their feet run to evil, they hasten to shed blood.) (Proverbs 1:10-16)

A Little Plymouth History

I just finished reading The Times of Their Lives, by James Deetz and Patricia Scott Deetz. The subtitle of this book is Life, Love, and Death in Plymouth Colony. The details that the authors provide are both fascinating and insightful.

Taking information from court cases, probate lists and archaeological digs, they piece together what daily life may have been like in Plymouth Colony.

James Deetz was an archaeologist and his love for his subject shows when he writes about what various digs have uncovered in the Plymouth area. I find archaeology fascinating and very mysterious, this book helped me to understand the subject a bit more.

For eleven years James Deetz was the Assistant Director of the museum at Plimouth Plantation, and he includes a chapter on that living history museum.

I've long been interested in seeing Plimouth Plantation (for historical as well as personal reasons - while I didn't have any ancestors on the Mayflower, I did have one on the Fortune - the second ship to come to Plymouth Colony) and now it's getting pushed to the top of the list of vacation possibilities for this year.

Following Him

Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid;
from now on you will be catching men.”
When they brought their boats to the shore,
they left everything and followed him. (Luke 5:10-11)

They just left everything and followed.

Pretty big leap of faith.

Could I do it?

I'd like to think I could. But then, I think if Jesus asks were to come and ask this of me - I would know he was someone who could be trusted. I would know he was God.

They didn't know Jesus was the Son of God. They didn't know he would rise from the dead. He was a preacher; a teacher. He worked miracles and told stories. He lived an itinerant life, with no visible means of support - he didn't appear to be pursuing a career as a carpenter at this time.

And yet they left everything and followed him.

They left families.

They left jobs.

They left houses.

And for what? A period of time on the road - living on what people donated; a period of time on the run from the authorities after their leader was executed, and ultimately horrific deaths.

This couldn't have been an easy decision to make. There weren't a lot of items in the plus column. But they did it anyway.

Could we?

In thinking about this once, I thought about Simon Peter's wife. What would she have had to say about all this. And I wrote a story about her called "The Fisherman's Wife."

Note: I had always figured he must have a wife, because he had a mother-in-law - but just the other day I was reading something about Plymouth Colony and learned that "father-in-law" was sometimes said when what we would refer to as "step-father" was meant. Perhaps that was true in Simon Peter's case as well - since no wife is ever mentioned.

We Have Walls

Bathroom Update - End of Week Two
We're at the end of week two and have finally had all of our initial inspections. So, the walls can start to go up. It's starting to look like a room again.

Poetry Friday

In honor of winter, and the winter weather we are sometimes getting this year:

London Snow
by Robert Bridges

When men were all asleep the snow came flying,
In large white flakes falling on the city brown,
Stealthily and perpetually settling and loosely lying,
Hushing the latest traffic of the drowsy town;
Deadening, muffling, stifling its murmurs failing;
Lazily and incessantly floating down and down:
Silently sifting and veiling road, roof and railing;
Hiding difference, making unevenness even,
Into angles and crevices softly drifting and sailing.

Read the rest of the poem here.

Heart of A Mother

There is a delightful new addition to the blogosphere. A Catholic Mom has decided to share reflections on the upcoming Sunday's Gospel from the perspective of a busy Mom. She's calling her blog Heart of A Mother, and I know I'm going to make it one of my regular reads.

The Literary DTs

I've never seen any one go through severe withdrawal from a controlled substance. But after telling Harry he had to stop reading the 3rd Harry Potter book before he finished it last night (because it was 10:30 and he is 6) I think I have a vague inkling of what it might be like.

He had convinced himself that he had to finish reading the book in January. So the simple suggestion of finish it in the morning was not good enough.

At first he just tried to be sneaky. We took the book away. He got it and sat back down to read. He even came in my room where I was trying to read and hid under MY covers with his book (hiding from his father, you understand, who obviously was going to find him there!).

Then we put the book out of reach.

The boy developed super human strength. He was hysterical and I couldn't contain him.

He announced his whole body was insisting that he read the book.

He was going to be sick if he didn't read the rest of the book.

We were firm in our "No" - after all - it was approaching 11 PM - and the boy is SIX!

Then he started bargaining.

He would go to sleep, if we just let him read to the next chapter.

Just four pages.

And then he would go to sleep.

No. (because of course: 11 PM and six years old)

I sat with him, I sang to him, I prayed with him. He calmed down.

I promised him, I'd return the book to him after he was asleep, so he could read it when he woke up in the morning.

He finally fell asleep.

I put the book near his bed.

First thing this morning - he started using the typewriter and working on the story he's writing.

Ummm - what about the hysteria, the book that needed to be finished?

I guess the pangs of detox were over, and he could finish it at his leisure now.

Sigh.

Domesday

Not Doomsday, but Domesday - it had to do with Domicile (I learned that recently.)

In doing a little family history research today, I made a very cool discovery. The Domesday book is available on line.

The Domesday book is something I had heard of at various times, but never figured I'd get a chance to see what it was really like.

In case you've never heard of it, the Domesday book is one of the oldest surviving public records in England. No one knows exactly what the purpose of it was for - most likely taxes - but

"at Christmas 1085 William the Conqueror commissioned a great survey to discover the resources and taxable values of all the boroughs and manors in England. He wanted to discover who owned what, how much it was worth, and how much was owed to him as King." (National Archives)

The British National Archives has not only made this document available online, but it is searchable - and they translated it, so those of us not conversant in Latin can still understand it.

I think I'm going to have fun exploring this.

Bathroom Update - Waiting for Inspectors

Things are moving along nicely in the bathroom. But now, we're waiting for the inspectors. And nothing much more can be done until the plumbing and electrical inspectors are here.

And as I was typing this, the doorbell rang, and it was the electrical inspector. One down.

Tuesday's Proverb

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; wisdom and instruction fools despise. Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and reject not your mother's teaching; A graceful diadem will they be for your head; a torque for your neck. (Proverbs 1:7-9)

Don't Put Away Childish Things

Ever since Pippi turned ten, Harry has been concerned.

Those double digits that his big sister now sports are a bit much for him.

"Pippi's getting too grown up," he tells me.

"Why?" I ask.

"She's not childish anymore," he says.

Hmmm - this about a girl who will give a big burp and laugh about it, who would much rather have some one get her a drink than pour it herself, who loves to play with her toys (almost as much as she likes reading); the girl who doesn't care what she wears, has no interest in make-up, nail polish, talking on the phone or pop music. This is the girl who is not childish anymore?

But then Pippi protests and says that Harry has always been too grown up. (She's been saying this since he was a toddler.) "But you're like a teenager," she complains.

He is very independent minded - but since he can't yet consistently tie his shoes or remember to flush the toilet - I hope there will be some improvement on that score before his teen years.

They are both who they are. Neither too old or too young.

They're not growing up too fast and I like that.

I wouldn't change them for the world.

Innovative Snowboarding

So, what do you do when there are three inches of snow, two free hours because of a delayed opening, a snow board and no hill? You improvise and snowboard down the slide - until your mother tells you this is a particularly bad idea.

What is Love?

We get the answer to that from today's second reading (1 Cor 13:4-8)

Love is patient, love is kind.
It is not jealous, it is not pompous,
It is not inflated, it is not rude,
it does not seek its own interests,
it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury,
it does not rejoice over wrongdoing
but rejoices with the truth.
It bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.

So, do I love the way I should? I can simply insert "I am" for "Love is" and see if the statements are true.

I am not always patient, I am not always kind.
I am often quick-tempered, and sometimes I brood over injury.

I am not a perfect example of love.

But, God doesn't expect me to be.

God gave us Jesus as the perfect example of love. Insert "Jesus is" for "Love is" and you will see that every statement remains true.

What God wants from us is not perfection (who truly expects their child to be perfect?), but to strive for perfection.

So, I will try to be more patient, more kind, less quick-tempered.

I will try to love more.

The End of the First Week

Well, we've survived the first week of bathroom renovations. And things are moving along quite nicely. The electrician came today (he was unable to make it Wednesday) and now I could say "there was light" - but there really isn't - just wires and places to put lights and switches.


One step at a time, right?


But at least we now have insulation. Which is good, because it's mighty cold today.

The Tub is Dead - Long Live the Tub

It's day four of renovations. And things are happening fast and furious. The old tub is gone.
And the new tub has taken its place.

A wee Kick in the Pants

I need to start writing again - fiction that is. And I decided one way to provide a little incentive for myself would be to keep public track of how much I'd written. I'm putting a meter at the bottom of the site. I'll keep it updated. I'm going to cheat a little today because, I already have a bit written on a new story - I'll put those numbers in - and then go from there.

And, if anyone knows of a good on-line writer's group, please let me know.

One of My Favorite People

Over at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast there is an interview with one of my favorite people. That would be Liz of A Chair, a Fireplace & a Tea Cozy.

And if she's not already one of your favorite people, pop on over and read the interview - and she will be.

The Tub Rules - Day Three

The tub is now the only original thing left in the bathroom (other than the radiator, and that's not going anyplace.)

The electrician is scheduled to come today.

Journey to Pern

I've recently found myself re-immersed in the land of Pern. It all started innocently enough when, looking for a new book to read, I discovered that there was a new Pern book that I hadn't read yet.

So, of course I read it. And then I discovered that while Anne McCaffrey had collaborated with her son on two novels about Pern, he'd also written one himself. And of course I had to read that.

And then Pippi was looking for a fantasy to read - so I handed her my copy of Dragonsong.

And while I was downstairs looking at our books, and had Pern on my mind, I started pulling my old copies off the shelf. So far, Dragonflight, Dragonquest, Dragonsong (snitched from my daughter and read when she was doing other things), Dragonsinger and now the White Dragon. I think I'm going to stop after this one - and move on to other things.

But there's something very satisfying about simply losing yourself in another world.

And of course, just as when I first read these books many years ago (won't say how many), I do kind of wish I had a fire lizard, or could see a dragon soaring over head.

Renovations - Day Two

Yesterday our bathroom was stripped of it's walls and most everything else. Except for the tub and floor.









Now the floor is gone too. The only thing left is the tub. I think that's coming out Thursday - but I could be wrong about that.

What Time is it Now?

"I have two things to tell you," my son informed me last night around 9:30 (when he really should have been sleeping, but that's another story).

"The earth moves to the east," he let me know.

Okay, I wasn't sure why this was an important observation, but that's fine.

"Yes, it does."

"And when it is 8 am here it is 8 pm in Beijing."

Hmm.

Actually, I checked today, and he was off by a bit - we are thirteen hours different from Beijing, not twelve. But he was pretty close.

And how did he figure this out?

The globe the kids got for Christmas.

It doesn't talk to them or have any computer chips embedded in it. It doesn't download information from cyberspace or light up to show the constellations. It's just a plain old fashioned globe. One that has a little dial on the top that gives you an idea of what time it is in other places if you adjust it properly.

Harry is studying China in school - and true to himself, once he's introduced to something he throws himself into it full force. He wants to know all about China now.

Maybe we'll have Chinese food for dinner sometime soon. (even though it will be breakfast time in China).

Time for a Little Remodeling

We have decided to re-do our bathroom. As can be seen in the picture below, this was really a truly necessary job.

When you need to hold the wall together with duct tape - and even that doesn't work, it's time to take the bull by the horns and do something about it.

So we're doing something. As I write, the contractor is upstairs ripping apart the bathroom.

Hopefully the job can be done fairly quickly, because, while we do have a second half-bath in the basement - it is just that. No shower - no bathtub - nothing like that. And it's in the basement - not the most convenient for late night wakings. But - it will all be worth it. (I know it will).

It's looking better already!

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

Pippi turned ten on Friday. This is a big deal. Double digits. And to celebrate, she and I took the train into the city and we attended her very first Broadway show.

Mary Poppins.

What a wonderful first exposure to Broadway.

True our seats were in the balcony - (and mine was behind a pipe!) - but none of that took away from the how wonderful the show was. There was so much energy - so much fun.

And when Mary Poppins flies off at the end - over the audience - she ended up right in front of us - and gave my Pippi a very big smile.

It was a wonderful way to celebrate a special birthday.

Neither of us will ever forget it.

What's Been Keeping Me Busy

New Year's promises to blog got pushed to the side when I decided to start a 1500 piece puzzle that my cousin gave me this summer.

I love doing puzzles, but tend to become rather obsessed with them - can't do anything else until it's done. I generally only do one a year, and they usually take about a day. They are usually not this many pieces. This one, however, took a week, so I did have to take breaks to feed the family and things like that.

But the puzzle is done now. And I'll have to take it apart soon so I can use the dining room table.

I'll put it again another time.

Maybe next year.

And now, maybe I'll have time to use the computer again.

Christmas Poetry

One of my favorite short verses regarding Christmas comes from Madeleine L'Engle.

This is the irrational season
Where love blooms bright and wild.
Had Mary been filled with reason
There'd have been no room for the child.

Happy Holidays to everyone.

On Not Posting

It's been more than a month.

I have no excuse.

Well, actually I do, but it's lame.

I've been busy. - Right - just like everyone else on the planet.

I've found that blogging is like anything else - if you fall out of the routine it's hard to get back into it - and when there are Christmas plays to go to and concerts to attend and cookies to bake and Christmas card pictures to take - other things tend to fall by the way side.

Perhaps my New Years Resolution will be to get back in the habit of writing (here and my fiction as well.)

But anyway, I haven't dropped off the face of the earth - in case anyone was wondering.

Merry Christmas from our House to Yours

Okay - so this isn't the picture we used for our card - but it does seem to capture the essence of getting ready for the holiday around here - everyone is excited and a little out of focus!

Poetry Friday - Friend Edition

Today I want to share one of my favorite poems - one whose imagery has stuck with me from the time I first read it in high school. And not only is it one of my favorite poems - but bonus - it was written by one of my favorite people.

I Saw God Today
by Liz B

I saw God today.
He reached down
With a hand of ribboned sunlight
Through dark forbidding clouds
To touch the earth.

The light rays pushed back the clouds
To reveal the sun
And its brightness filled me
Then my room
Making me smile inside.

I saw God today.
Gold filtered down
Encompassing the sky and earth
Like loving arms; and with that
He returned my smile.

Now - I'm not going to say when this was written (if Liz wants to share those details it's up to her) - but I do have the author's permission to use it for Poetry Friday. Thanks, Liz.

Simple is Best

The kids and I have been straightening the attic (I know based on the picture from the other day, maybe we ought to concentrate on other rooms - but so be it) and once we cleared a bit of space, they decided it made a neat club house.

Fine - go play in the attic - just don't fall through the ceiling is all I ask (there is not flooring over about half of the attic).

They found a shoe box up there that had remnants of toys from my youth in the seventies. I had looked in it yesterday - it was the flotsam of a generation - some Action Jackson clothes, a vest for a Flatsy doll, a wooden "Dish" from a "Cow Jumped over the Moon" mobile - and a plastic top that once came out of a box of Trix cereal. I had put the box aside to deal with later.

They came downstairs a few minutes ago and announced that they found the coolest toy.

"It's a Trix Top and it does tricks." They said, full of excitement. "When you spin it - it wobbles some and then flips over so it's spinning on it's other side. It's Soooo Cool."

They demonstrated the toy for me.

"You had the best toys," they said with a sigh and headed back upstairs.

They have computer games and stuffed animals that respond when you pet them. Trust me - they have lots of cool toys.

I guess it just goes to show you - sometimes simple is best.

The Day After

So, yesterday I walked into the living room and this is what I saw.

It was like a candy store and a comic book store had collided with each other.

In case you can't tell - there's a second pile of candy under the piano against the back wall.

Oh well, I guess it's a kids paradise.

But - it did get cleaned up.

Trick or Treat

Holiday Creep

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. (cue music)

What? Don't tell me you haven't noticed all the Christmas decorations in the stores. And it's still not Halloween yet.

The retailers say they do this so that it will get people in the mood to spend for Christmas. And while I love Christmas and do buy presents, and it's fun to see the first decorations of the season - I don't want to see them in September.

And the same goes for other holidays (and big sales events too.)

For example putting Back To School supplies in the stores the week after the kids get out of school is just plain cruel. At least let them get a chance to sleep in a few days first.

And Halloween candy - it's been on display in our grocery stores since August. I'm not buying my Halloween candy in August - thank you very much.

The problem is that it becomes invisible to me. I have to ignore it because it is just so ridiculous. And then, it's October 20 something and I realize I still need Halloween candy. It becomes such a habit to ignore it that the fact that I do eventually have to buy it slips my mind.

Now, I'm not likely to forget that I need to get Christmas presents - but I would appreciate the first decorations of the season so much more if they were - you know - actually seasonal. Jack Frost nipping at the nose - the leaves off the trees - and ooh look there are Christmas decorations in the store. Instead I find myself sighing and saying "already?" And then by the time Thanksgiving rolls around the decorations are looking faded and old. We're tired of them already - and we still have a month to go.

Oh well. That's just my little rant for the day.

And Merry Christmas - oops, I mean Happy Halloween (so hard to keep track anymore.)

Still Here

I haven't posted in awhile, because, basically I've had nothing too interesting to say. Hopefully that will change soon.

That Grey Area

This evening, my husband was discussing something with me, and handed me an article to read on the topic. "It's a bit of a grey area," he said.

Our son piped up then, "of course it's a grey area, that paper is all in black and white."

So there.

Poetry Friday

In honor of the winds that blew in the cold temperatures last night, here's a little Robert Louis Stevenson:

Windy Nights
Whenever the moon and stars are set,
Whenever the wind is high,
All night long in the dark and wet,
A man goes riding by.
Late in the night when the fires are out,
Why does he gallop and gallop about?

Whenever the trees are crying aloud,
And ships are tossed at sea,
By, on the highway, low and loud,
By at the gallop goes he.
By at the gallop he goes, and then
By he comes back at the gallop again.

Apple Picking

A couple of weeks ago we took advantage of a relatively free weekend and took the kids apple picking. This has become an annual tradition. One that we've perfected over time. We discovered an orchard that uses dwarf trees and trains them on wires, like grape vines. It makes it so that all of the apples are easy to reach - by everyone. It doesn't take long at all to acquire forty pounds of apples - that's a lot of apple pies, apple cakes, apple pancakes, and just plain snacking apples.



The other part of our annual outing is to take a walk to Pennsylvania.

That's not as hard as it sounds.

We go to Washington Crossing State Park and explore a little history. The park is actually on both sides of the Delaware River, and there is a bridge there with a sidewalk on it. We wander the New Jersey side, discuss Washington crossing the Delaware, sometimes check out the Ferry House if it's open, and then take our walk to Pennsylvania, where there is a little shop selling Revolutionary era goodies - and cheap candy. The kids get candy and we explore some on the PA side before returning home.


The kids on the walk back to NJ.


This year we got a late start, the Ferry House was closed when we got there, and it started to drizzle when we got to the PA side, so the trip was shorter than most. But it was still lots of fun.

And my kids love history - one year we learned that George Washington's favorite candy was rock candy. Made eating it that much more fun.

Why do they save the hard questions till late

when you are too tired to think straight and just want them to go to bed? That was the scenario yesterday, when my son said, "I didn't know the church was a woman."

Okay, I thought of "Holy Mother Church," and I made some comment on how we tend to think of it that way.

And he continued, "because the priest is married to the church."

Right - well, that's pretty true, I suppose, and as the Church as the Bride of Christ was mentioned yesteray at Mass, I think. I said "Yes, it is like he is married to the church, but it is also like he is married to God in a way."

"But a man can't marry another man," he answered.

Ummm - yes, I wimped out on the answer. "Right, I said, now go to bed," I said.

Thanks for the Suggestions

We're off to the library to look up some of the books recommended for S both here and at Liz's place. Thanks to everyone. I'll let you know what ones he likes.

Poetry Friday - Harvest Moon edition

Last night I was washing dishes and looked outside and saw a beautiful full moon. Then I remembered it was the Harvest Moon. I called the kids outside to look at it. It was beautiful. My daughter, who is learning about weather in her Enrichment class said the moon was so bright because of the angle between the moon and the sun.

I decided to honor the beautiful sight with the following poem.

Under the Harvest Moon
By Carl Sandburg

Under the harvest moon,
When the soft silver
Drips shimmering
Over the garden nights,
Death, the gray mocker,
Comes and whispers to you
As a beautiful friend
Who remembers.

The rest of the poem can be read here.

Revision Progress Update

I finished my revision - now I just need to see if it needs any more sprucing up before the novel is out in circulation again and looking for a publisher.

Two things I learned during the process:

1) lots of good ideas for other projects present themselves when you can't work on them - and dissipate when you can.

2) don't read anything by Meg Cabot while in final revision - everything she does is so spot on, it makes me simply want to throw in the towel.

Looking for Suggestions

My son is currently interested in the middle ages. I was wondering if anyone knows of any good boy adventure stories set in the middle ages that are at a middle grade reading level - but have a content appropriate for a first grader. He's read The Arthur chapter book "King Arthur" and the Magic Tree House book set in the middle ages. He's read the first two Harry Potter books, so is up for a challenge. Any suggestions welcome. Thanks

Poetry Friday

My daughter does not consider herself much of a poet. She is more of a prose writer - but in language arts this year she's going to have to write a lot of poems. I think her first effort for the year is a lot of fun, so I'm sharing it on Poetry Friday.

My Pencil
by KRM (age 9)

My pencil is tall and new
And unfortunately his brains are few.
I sharpen his dull head to a point.
Now my pencil is smaller,
Not taller.
He likes to write a lot.
Now my pencil needs to get smart.
He sharpens himself again.
If this continues,
Where will my pencil be?
As short as a short fat bee!

I'll try to add links later.

Banned Book Week

It's Banned Book Week - a week during which the ALA tries to raise awareness of books that have been challenged, mainly in libraries and schools.

Now banning books conjures up images of book burning and oppresive regimes.

And book banning is bad.

Okay - that said - this is really about books that parents or community members (usually a small group) don't want their children - or any children to have access to. Focus on the Family protests that calling this banning books is going too far.

But not allowing access to anyone because of a personal problem with something, is not right. No one is forcing you to read a certain book.

Ah - but what about when they are? Some books that are challenged are on required reading lists. If a parent thinks that a book is too mature for their ninth grader, do they get to have a say? Saying "I don't want my child to have to read this" and saying "I don't want my child or any child to have access to this" are two different things.

Unfortunately those two things tend to get lumped together - making it so that some people can point to extreme examples of children being required to read books that have extremely mature content - and others to say that people are trying to ban Clifford the Big Red Dog.

It's really two different arguments. Parents of elementary school children and young teens should have some say in what their children are reading. It's part of being a responsible parent. And notice I say "their children" and "some say". Notice I also said "young teens", I think older teens should be allowed to make their own decisions without interference.

However people don't have a right to say "I don't like this - no one should be allowed to read it."

There are a lot of different views of the world, and a lot of different experiences people have had. Reading about them is one way for our children, and ourselves to learn about the world. If you start restricting what can be read, you restrict what can be learned.

So celebrate banned book week - by reading a book. Any book - and be glad you have the right to.

Fun at the Bookstore

Well, we had our adventure yesterday. The kids and I got to meet Jennifer L. Holm at a book signing. She was promoting her new book, Penny from Heaven, a wonderful account of one girl's growing up in the 50s in New Jersey. That girl, by the way, was based on her mother - who was there last night. Very cool.

We were late for the reading because a make-up Hockey game ended up being scheduled for last night - but we did get to hear the end of the question and answer session.

Jennifer has also written the Babymouse books, which my kids practically have memorized, they've read them so many times.

And Jennifer was so very nice and charming. She signed four books for us and posed for a picture with my son and daughter.

An added bonus was we got to see Liz. It's always a good day when that happens. And, since I was the one holding the camera - that's Liz getting her book signed last night.

So, thanks to Liz for telling us about this event and thanks to Jennifer for being so great and gracious. And thanks too to my Mom who went with us and informed me that the Barnes and Noble in Holmdel had moved to the other side of the street since the last time I was there.

Career Choices

It's always fun when kids tell you what they're going to be when they grow up. I remember when my daughter was about 3 or 4 and she announced she was going to be an artist (this was a kid who didn't like to draw) and a mountain climber. She was also going to be the President's helper. Why not the President? We already have one. Okay.

Later she realized that she could be an actor and also President - a la Ronald Reagan - so that was her goal.

Then she decided that she would be an actress and an author - like Julia Andrews.

I think that's where she still is - goal wise. She wants to be on Broadway though - not in movies. I say - go for it.

My son has also gone through his share of career goals. He watched the Tour de France and decided he'd be a professional bicycle rider - as well as a baseball player - of course. And he thought we should contact the airlines about getting his bicycle to France - I told him we had time for that.

More recently he told me he was going to be President (I'm glad my children aim high).

Yesterday the topic came up again. My daughter announced that she didn't want to work in an office when she grew up. "Good luck with that," I told her.

And then my son said he was going to be three things when we grew up. A publisher, an author and an engineer (an engineer like Dad).

He figures if he's both a publisher and an author it will be easier to get his books published. Sounds like good reasoning to me.

His sister immediately said that if he was a publisher he had to publish her books as well.

He agreed.

It's nice to have that settled.

Revision Progress

As of last night I've revised through chapter 11 and I have a total of almsot 33,000 revised words. Unfortunately I'm at a point where the revised story differs dramatically from existing story - so no grabbing stuff already written and using that. Hopefully more will get done today. We'll see.

Go to the Carnival

The Seventh Carnival of Children's Literature is hosted this month by Wands and Worlds. Go over and enjoy some good reading. I have something there too - my first carnival submission!

Poetry Friday

Sometimes there are lines from poems that just stick in your head. This is one of the ones that sticks with me.

From The Walrus and The Carpenter
by Lewis Carroll

"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes—and ships—and sealing-wax—
And cabbages—and kings—
And why the sea is boiling hot—
And whether pigs have wings."

For the rest of the poem, go here.

Some other Poetry Friday contributions: Jen Robinson brings us a little Shel Silverstein, Book Buds gives us some poems for peace and Blog from the Windowsill has a review of a monster poetry book for young readers.

Edited to add: A poem on moving at Here in the Bonny Glen, Michele at Scholar's Blog has a combined Poetry Friday/book review, Journey Woman shares a little Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Chicken Spaghetti brings us some poetry news. Little Willow give us a Nest Full of Stars, and Susan Taylor Brown brings us Christina Rosetti on Caterpillars.

More Revision Progress

I stopped noting my progress - because I started over at chapter 1 again. But, I am making progress. Today I finished chapter 10 and wrote slightly more than 3000 words. So - progress is being made. But, no more tonight.

Making Him Happy

It was the first day of CCD today. For my daughter it was old hat. It was brand new for my son. He didn't seem too intimidated by it. He answered a question correctly at assembly (the answer was Jesus, I don't know what the question was) and got a googly-eye bookmark.

And for homework he said he has to practice saying the Rosary. We've done a family rosary once or twice - it's a habit I'd like to get into, but haven't yet. I said that sounded like a good idea. We could all say the rosary.

Then my son told me, he thinks he should say the Rosary even if it's not homework, "because it would pleasure God."

Yes, it would.

By Our Actions Shall we be Known

The second reading this Sunday was from the Letter of James, and in it we have James 2:18 - "Indeed someone might say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works." In other words, you can tell I have faith, because of the way I act.

We all like to have an image of ourselves - but it is the way we act that puts the truth to our image. Do we view ourselves as outgoing, but are uncomfortable speaking to someone we've just met? Do we say we believe in a healthy lifestyle, but yet go to McDonalds for lunch everyday?

We can say and think whatever we want about ourselves, but it is in what we actually do that the truth manifests itself.

So, the bigger question is, if people who call themselves followers of Islam, proclaim that they are a religion of peace, but yet, seem to be involved in a lot of violence in the name of that religion - what are we to believe? What we hear, or what we see?

I'm Just Saying

It seems to me that if you say "If you call me violent I'll kill you," that you are pretty much winning the other person's argument for him.

Poetry Friday - Weather Edition

Rain

by Robert Louis Stevenson

The rain is raining all around,
It falls on field and tree,
It rains on the umbrellas here,
And on the ships at sea.

Guess what the weather is up to again. Sigh.

Other Poetry Friday entries so far:
Blog from the Windowsill offers an ode to her new goddaughter.
Jen Robinson offers an ode to Roald Dahl (one of my son's favorite authors by the way)
And Nancy at Journey Woman offers us a little Robert Frost.

Edited to add: Michele at Scholar's Blog provides a poem by and biography of Gerard Manly Hopkins.
Little Willow gives us some of Tennyson's Lady of Shallot.
And Kelly at Big A little a has an excerpt from Poe's The Raven

Edited again: Liz at A Chair, A Fireplace and A Tea Cozy, shares some Robert Browning.
And Melissa in the Bonny Glen shares the poem she named her site after. Now - is the site eponymous, or the poem? I'm never sure which direction to use that word.

I'm sure there are more, or will be soon - I'll check back later.