Author Archives: Kim Halloran-Fry

fledgling

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"Mama, come quick!" 

The children were playing in the garden when they came upon these fledglings, a bit stunned by their rude introduction into the big world.  They were spotted when they had wandered out onto the open grassy area, a bit stunned.  

We talked about mamas, who linger nearby ready to help. We talked about not touching them and playing in the back garden, giving them time and space while they worked it out.  We talked about how hard it is to trust that it will be ok when it doesn't look like it will be ok. 

If you have ever had a fledgling person of your own, you know how much easier that all is in theory.  

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Here's to fledglings everywhere, eager to spread untested wings.  Here's to their mama's – hovering closeby, watching, praying, coaching, hoping. 

Maytime

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"Winter is many months of the year
But now at last Maytime is here;
And birds sing from a leafy screen
In the trees and hedgerow freshly green;
And the wood-anemone is out in the shade,
With its blushing petals which too soon fade;
Once more the bracken is unfurling there,
And bluebells gently perfume the damp air."

-  Veronica Ann Twells, Maytime

A very happy May Day to you from our woodland fairies. 

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daily – now

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"Forever is composed of nows." Emily Dickinson

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right now:

The garden is carpeted in flower petals.

We are moving furniture around making room for a new piece.

The little dog is being weaned off his steroids. (fingers crossed!)

Moira is teaching piano to the younger children.

Soccer (seasonal)  is in full swing. 

Ditto field trips.

I am trying to remember the difference between what calls to me and what I am called to do – and where those things overlap, and where they do not. 

Staying up too late.  See line above. 

Awaiting a smallish dental procedure this week. Sigh.

Planning to play with patchwork. 

Creating order. 

 

 

 

A treasure – free this week

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It's still one of those unusually vivid memories of mine.  It was 1997 and I can recall exactly what the living room of the townhouse we were staying in looked like.  It was colonial style with dark wood furniture and Wedgewood blue accents.  I wanted to stay forever.  Except it was a hotel and we had just had our fifth baby and a cat and so that wasn't within the realm of possibility. ; ) 

I was standing in that blue room when Maureen and Rachel were emailing about a book project.  A really good book project.  In 1997 there were not entire sections in bookstores devoted to homeschooling.  You were hard pressed to find anything in print that related to Catholic homeschooling at all.  This very good idea was to remedy that by publishing a collection of experiences and advice from real live Catholic homeschool moms.  

Fast forward 17 years.

Although there is one kindergartener left in my living room these days I have found myself discussing preschool anew with my daughters and daughter-in-law and new homeschooling moms.  It is still a subject that is so very near and dear to my heart.  Increasingly I have thought back to that volume of stories from years ago.  It occurred to me that I actually had my thoughts collected in one place and would not change a thing about what I wrote despite having journeyed through those early years with five more babies since then.  Problem was I could not locate my original volume and had lost the chapter notes in a computer crash over the years.  Maureen to the rescue.  

Maureen has graciously uploaded the entire volume to Amazon and it is free through Friday.  Mine is safely in hand once again so I am prepared when someone asks, "What about the little ones?"  There is also a whole lot of ground covered in the rest of the book.  It was written by moms (and a Dad or two!) in living rooms during an era where there were not co-ops in every city and internet connections began with a dial tone.  You did not need a fortune then but you had to be really dedicated and committed to hang in and thrive.  There stories are ready to download right now.  They are still relevant and today they are free. : ) 

A Catholic Homeschool Treasury

 

unless there is a cross

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"What do the scars of Christ teach us?  They teach us that life is a struggle: that our condition of a final resurrection is the same as His; that unless there is a cross in our lives there will never be an empty tomb; unless there is a Good Friday there will never be an Easter Sunday; unless there is a crown of thorns there will never be the halo of light; and unless we suffer with Him we shall not rise with Him. 

Everywhere else but in Him, liberation promised is either armed or forced and that can mean slavery. Only nailed love is free. Unnailed and uncrucified love can compel. Hands pinioned to a wooden beam cannot compel, nor can a lifted Host or an elevated Chalice constrain.  They can only beckon."

Fulton Sheen Lessons on Cana and Calvary

 

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best of anything

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   "I love the new paper dollies Aunt Amy painted for me best of anything!"

– Little Men

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And these little girls love the paper dollies their big sister makes for them. They have been busy designing ball gowns and christening paper people with names like Lisette and Clarabella.  The only disagreement came when Moira offered to make a prince as well.  "No Princes!" said Abbie Rose with absolute conviction.  She has no intention of playing the boy and was pretty sure she would end up with the job.  Therefore, there are only damsels in this paper kingdom.