To have the children near me, to occupy myself with them, to try to raise them in the noblest sense of that term and to impress on those little souls things that will never be effaced; to interest myself a bit in everyone and to make our home into a living center, to give it soul – all this filled my days.
– The Secret Diary of Elisabeth Leseur
Yes, all this.
I am eating my words – and a lot of other stuff, looks like – by telling you that we did do a second celebration this month after all. St. Joseph's feast day follows right on the heels of St. Patrick's. As we read today the boys were pretty certain we "could" pull off a semi-traditional St. Joseph's celebration. Traditional in that we had the symbolic foods, 'semi' in that we picked it all up on the way to soccer. Do we plan ahead or what?
So real quick 'cause it's late here is what we did. We read Good St. Joseph together over lunch. (after Kieran swore he could find it if I promised to read it. He did. I did. : ))
We looked up online traditional St Joseph altars in Italian communities. They said the table typically had three tiers to symbolize the 3 persons in the Trinity and the 3 people in the Holy Family. We made ours with stackes of books and paper.
The little girls ran to the toy bins and brought a tool set.
Kieran and Brendan grabbed some white beans and made the FAVA sign to tell the story of the famine.
I ran into the store and got Fig Newtons (fig pastries are traditional but time consuming), spaghetti and sauce, and premade cream puffs.
We ate it all up.
Then they retold the story to Dad. Voila.
They are sleeping off their cream puffs and I am joining them the minute I hit publish.
For references and printable projects to be done when you wake up say oh yeah! It's a feast day! Like right now….. you can find a ton on Catholicicing.com
Fig pastries are one traditional dish. Catholicicing (pretty sure) suggested carving traditional symbols into the fig newtons which thrilled the little boys for some reason.
Cream puffs. Frozen. I sprinkled the sugar on top. I think that makes them semi-homeade.
Does too. : )
A double blessing today: our priest sharing our special saint day and blessing our current home.
Poor St. Patrick, courageous, faithful, selfless – reduced today to green beer and Lucky Charms. (don't get me wrong though – we do plenty of silly, happy things to celebrate too) He was brutally kidnapped from a comfortable family home on the island where my own family now lives. Taken by force, enslaved for YEARS, in cold isolation. Where many would grow bitter and their hearts as frigid as the windy hills where he was charged with wet, wild sheep, he took refuge in prayer. Year after year, exposed to the elements he cried out to God, Who heard and rescued.
He was not content to live the rest of his days in safety. He knew this world would never be that. It called for service, not ease. He answered that call by returning to minister to the very people who abused him. In constant danger, he stayed there in the midst of them, bringing them truth and light.
In a world that worships liberation and insists happiness rests in saving oneself, he is a paradox, a puzzle. A saint.
A fervent Irish prayer to say and share this day:
Bless this house, o Lord, we pray.
Make it safe by night and day.
Bless these walls so firm and stout,
Keeping want and trouble out.
Bless the roof and chimney tall,
Let thy peace lie over all.
Bless the doors that they may prove
Ever open to joy and love.
Bless the windows shining bright,
Letting in God's heavenly light.
Bless the hearth a-blazing there,
With smoke ascending like a prayer.
Bless the people here within…
Keep them pure and free from sin.
Bless us all, that one day, we
May be fit, O lord, to dwell with Thee.
Dinner tonight was:
Ideas we are working on for the month of March here under St Patrick. I try to have one theme per month to linger through. It is Ireland this month.
We are reading:
Can't say enough about the last two books. I adore the "This is…" series.
"It is right and good that you should devote yourself to great things, to important and excellent works; but practice for the love of God those little humble virtues which spring up like flowers at the foot of the cross:the bearing of some slight misfortune, some passing infirmity, a vexation, a disappointment, an offense, a humiliation, certain tiresome occupations at home or abroad.
As such occassions are ever recurring, what a treasure they of spiritual riches you can amass if you know how to profit by them!"
– Keep it Simple, Emmanuel de Gibergues
oooh, we're halfway there….
I have a major Bon Jovi earworm goin' on this Laetare Sunday. But hey, we ARE now half way to Easter. We talked with the children about the loaves and the fishes tonight and read the reflection in Divine Intimacy. The author pointed out that God could very well have just produced the food out of the ether, but instead He asked the boy for the pittance he had to offer. This is the way with God, he says.
He always asks for our cooperation, even when in truth our effort is so very insufficient for the task.
He can take whatever little bit we offer and multiply it in miraculous ways. It reminds me of the game my husband used to play with the boys when they were babies. They would toss a ball towards a hoop and it predictably only went a few feet. Instead of letting it fall, he would scoop it up midair and sink the basket, which brought wild cheers from the tiny players. This is so very reassuring when my own steps towards sanctity seem pitiful to me. God can come up alongside me just that same way and carry them forward to fruition.
We will revisit this bible story during the week, probably by using the story bible as reading practice. In lieu of paper crafts I am hoping to have the littles make tuna sandwiches for lunch together one day. Maybe, since it is a mostly at home week we will make the bread too. Another goal is to make an Easter garden. I have everything gathered and had hoped to do this sooner but, you know, life happens. Should be time yet.
How about you? I hope you have made some baby steps to Calvary as well. If time permits you might be able to try one of these ideas in the remaining weeks of lent. One finished project is good. Five half finished projects, not so much.
Undershoot. : ) God can multiply your efforts.
"The practice of the presence of God really consists in making strong efforts to keep God always present in our mind and heart, even when we are engaged in our daily tasks."
How? we ask.
"(I can)consider my duties as so many manifestations of the will of God, and so unite myself to this divine will as I perform them. Further, I can make it a practice to view all the circumstances of my life in the light of faith, and therefore arranged by divine Providence for my good. This will incline me to accept them and to repeat continually to my heavenly Father:
"I am content with everything You do for me."
"…there were real, silent haunts where a prayerful soul could become absorbed in recollection and praise."
Moira and I were walking this foggy afternoon, so still we could hear our own steps on the ground. We spotted something in the distance in the water. At first I thought perhaps it was trash that had fallen in. Then no. As we approached we could begin to make them out, three swans gliding so silently you could barely register movement.
I have thought about them since, slowly moving downstream, making no big splashing scenes. No upset or feathers flying. Just fully possessed of themselves, recollected. This is the image I have held in my mind. A goal. When concerns arise, the to-do list grows, when the life waters get choppy, not to fight it but to float along with it. I tend to fluster better than float, but this is what I keep returning to.
“Do whatever falls to your hands,
in your circle and in your situation–
and believe that this is and will be your true work;
nothing more from you is expected.
It is a great error to think that you must
undertake important and great labours,
whether for heaven, or, as the progressives think,
in order to make one’s contribution to humanity.
That is not necessary at all. It is necessary only
to do everything in accordance with the Lord’s commandments.
Just exactly what is to be done? Nothing in particular,
just that which presents itself to each one
according to the circumstances of his life,
and which is demanded by the individual events
with which each of us meets.”
– Theophan the Recluse
Dessi sent me a link to a recent post which spoke deep into my heart. It is a grave temptation to assume heavy burdens never meant for us. Ironically, assuming those burdens often causes us to neglect the work that was set aside for us specifically. What we consider virtuous often becomes vice for us this way. This is a lesson that I have had to relearn many times over the years.
A similar message from Elisabeth Elliot:
"…the ordinary transactions of everyday life are the very means of transfiguration. It is the common stuff of this world which, because of the Word’s having been “made flesh,” is shot through with meaning, with charity, with the glory of God…
"So if you wish that you had time to be holy, remember that you have to love God first, love your husband next, and love your children thirdly. And of course, your neighbors and your enemies. Come down from the mountain of vision with all the urgency of the love of Christ, and do the work He needs you to do."
Today I am keeping these words close, reminding myself that these many chores are both exactly what I should be doing and "shot through with meaning."
1. First week of lent coming to a close. It's gone by fast all things considered. I feel we are in better shape than we were a week ago. I had a long talk with myself this week and made an honest assessment of what needed tightening up and set about doing it. I saw this list of cooking habits and one point in particular seemed relevent to other household and homeschool tasks – have all your ingredients (supplies) laid out before you begin the steps. Yes. As in, Kim, do not go get an idea off the net during the day and attempt to implement it right. then. Don't.
So with that mantra ringing in my ears I am stepping back, NOT making a lot, and working on the infrastructure – craft supplies and kitchen supplies. I know it will make us more productive later. Right now its making me itch to DO something.
Else.
2. There is a delightful elderly woman in our chapel who adores our children and has clearly looked for ways to bless them. This past Sunday she brought us a neatly handdrawn chart on graph paper which she used with her own children many, many years ago to track lenten sacrifices and the journey to the cross. It may be one of the dearest things we have ever received. So dear, I cannot find the photo of it. Being straight with you. See #1 above.
3. The boys and I have been going through their history and art appreciation together which has led to some incredible (short, sweet, thankyouwiki) rabbit trails. This week it was the Reign of Terror and the uprising in the Vendee. I admit I am getting a lot more out of homeschool lessons these days than I did the first round or two of kids. Guessing that sleeping through the night has something to do with it. This has been seriously fascinating though and somehow just having me read it with them is making it pretty amazing for them too.
4. The incredible Snickers cupcakes. Oh my. So, Alannah had her first work function that required bringing food. No one had signed up for cupcakes. Score! She was determined these had to be like, world class cupcakes. I think they were that. She has graduated to making her own cake batter from scratch with all her quirky special additions. Then she filled them with a caramel/candy filling. Topped them with a nougat copycat type frosting, chopped candy bars, and melted caramel sauce. People are still coming up to her. In fact my husband took some to work and people have stopped her in the halls to discuss them.
I say all this because what this did for her was to validate her progress over the past few years. She had a pretty good idea she was developing some mad kitchen skills but that outside objective affirmation helps you know when you are solidly out the gate with a hobby. It just makes me happy for her. It's not about the cupcakes, know what I mean?
5. Speaking of which, I saw this Ira Glass quote a while back. Then again last week when a friend who is a digital artist shared it with her response to questions like, "How do you do that?" It reminded me of a quote poster I have seen which says, "Don't compare your beginning to someone else's middle." The most important piece of the puzzle whether in a craft, hobby, skill, – knitting, baking, photography, home organization, parenting you-name-it is experience. Lots of it. Lots of time. Lots of experimentation. Lots of messing up. We shouldn't be discouraged if people who have been doing a thing for a lot longer are doing it better. Anything you stick with will become exponentially easier as years go by. This is what I tell myself as well because while some things are infinitely easier these days, there are also things that 30 yo women are proficient at which I am just now getting around to figuring out since I was broke and knee deep in diapers and military life when I was that. So lets read it again together:
“Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.”
― Ira Glass
6. On that same note a word about Pinterest. I love it. I have read a lot of Pinterest bashing lately. It shows beautiful things. Apparently if you cannot recreate the beautiful things, just as beautifully, you will sink into the depths of depression. Phooey, I say. When I look at a Rembrandt I don't cover my head in shame comparing myself. I admire. I analyze what it is that works in the piece and try to see if that applies to other crafts – the way light falls, the color palatte, the mood. Ditto Pinterest. I may never make everything I have pinned. That isn't my goal. I might not create that gray and orange living room with the chevron pillows (which I love) for instance, but those elements would make a great outfit or an awesome binder set. That's just how my brain works though.
7. Some several happy minutes were passed over here this week. Just go and soak up the joy. And see this beautiful space. I am totally using these ideas. You know, after the infrastructure stuff is done. I promise.
Starry Sky Journal 