There was a knock at the door the other evening. Our neighbor spotted a small screech owl in the trees and called me out to try to capture him. (in camera, that is) He allowed us to get near enough to do just that. Then slowly floated down into the hollow below.
let the little things amaze you; that's how you'll remember life is a miracle. - alexandra wolf
“These are the few ways we can practice humility:
To speak as little as possible of one's self.
To mind one's own business.
Not to want to manage other people's affairs.
To avoid curiosity.
To accept contradictions and correction cheerfully.
To pass over the mistakes of others.
To accept insults and injuries.
To accept being slighted, forgotten and disliked.
To be kind and gentle even under provocation.
Never to stand on one's dignity.
To choose always the hardest.”
– Mother Teresa
Happy new year! Today is the first Sunday in advent and the beginning of a new Church year. Fresh start. We begin a month of preparation. In our day this can be a busy month, however the most important work to be done is really very quiet. We remind ourselves of this as we carefully light one violet candle and say the blessing over it. We whisper prayers together in the glow of the flame. (video here) We come around this table every evening in December. It is the gift we give to ourselves in a season when contemplation can be hard to come by.
We pulled out the trees and lights today. Over the course of the coming weeks we will be adding ornaments and hanging garlands. We will reach for favorite stories to read a little every day, no pressure. (I explain that and share one of my favorites here.) There will be gifts gathered – some purchased and some handmade. There will be beloved saints to feast with throughout.
There will be a concerted effort not to bustle.
To help in the bustle free effort we are spending some time today and tomorrow to look ahead so we have what we need for the upcoming feasts. I will also be printing some mom-inspiration from days gone by.
St Andrew novena prayer cards here and here with an explanation of this miraculous prayer
St Nicholas ideas here
Advent Customs in the Home here
Advent sections of this book and this book
Mrs. Sharp's Traditions – Advent
Lord this humble house we'd keep
Sweet with play and calm with sleep,
Help us so that we may give
Beauty to the lives we live.
Let Thy love and let Thy grace
Shine upon our dwelling place.
– Edgar Guest
I was going to share geography books and I will. However you will humor me, please, because I just finished another book that will be right up near the top of my list of books-I-pray-my-daughters-and-close-friends-read.
I just finished.
Sigh.
I had to save those last 20pages for alone time because it was pretty certain to be a big emotional event. It was. I locked myself in the guest bath until composed enough to reenter society. Whew.
The book? Oh yes. That would help. It was Mrs. Mike, a semi-biographical novel about a young Irish-American woman who leaves Boston for a Canadian outpost around 1900. It's a thrifted paperback copy we've had forever and it didn't give me so much as a hint as to how compelling it would end up being all those years it sat on my shelves. It read like a quick romance, initially, which meant you arrived at the gut-socking parts completely unprepared for the thinking and mourning and thinking some more that you would do.
To me, there are significant similarities to Strangers and Sojourners by Michael O'Brien. If you've read one and not the other I am telling you now you should. Pain, strength, and beauty are all illustrated in such a way that it makes you feel braver, more grateful, and less concerned with petty things. You realize, "When little things perspectiare so important, it's because there aren't any big ones."
Sometimes a novel can make you think more deeply about faith and family than a theology volume can. This was one of those for me. I pray the perspective embeds deeply in my heart.
While in my head I am still vicariously wandering through northern forests and gliding around crystal lakes tonight I'm pulling out pictures of one of the most idyllic places we passed through this summer. Part of Black Hills National Park. Breathtaking.
While rereading one of my favorite old books (here) I found this gem that went into my commonplace/quote book (housed in 99 cent composition books):
"He must rid his heart of pride and anger. He must learn how to humble himself and be clothed with charity. These are the virtues he must acquire and this inner preparation will give him the balance and poise which he will need…We insist on the fact that a teacher must prepare himself interiorly by systematically studying himself so that he can tear out his most deeply rooted defects, those in fact which impede his relations with children." - Maria Montessori The Secret of Childhood
“Life becomes precious and more special to us when we look for the little everyday miracles and get excited about the privileges of simply being human”
Tim Hansel, You Gotta Keep Dancing
It has been a week since I have posted. Surely it is not for lack of stories to share. My photo albums are full to bursting, we have read beautiful books this summer, gone many exciting places – even in the past week, and back to school preparations are beginning. This has also been a very sober season. There are multiple novenas going daily for various intentions among those we love dearly.
Big, big, stuff God is asking of our friends and loved ones right now.
What can we do? We become Aaron's holding up their arms. This is the very definition of loving – to come up on either side and help your friends "remain steady." This is what we all need. That and the assurance that we are equal to the challenge. Perhaps this is always at the root of our fears. We look ahead to where our journey is leading and we know quite honestly that, as we stand at this moment, we do not have what it will take. Truth is, we don't. God in His economy doesn't issue us graces a minute before they are needed. (Personally, I will just say right now I have had words with Him about this policy.)
If you haven't already heard Corrie ten Boom's story about her father explaining how grace works maybe it will bless you too:
"When you and I go to Amsterdam, when do I give you your ticket?"
"Why, just before we get on the train."
"Exactly. And our wise Father in heaven knows when we're going to need things, too. Don't run out ahead of him, Corrie. When the time comes that some of us will have to die, you will look into your heart and find the strength you need, just in time."
Just in time. No matter what it is He is asking of us.
Just don't run out ahead of Him.
(side note: It cannot be coincidental that the other story that has been so influential in my life was about a trip to Holland. Because I am a slow study, it is probably not coincidental that when I was an exchange student in high school I was sent to….
wait for it…
Holland.
yep. True story. No coincidences in this life. Just a loving Father who pursues us tirelessly with grace at the ready.)
Revisiting some thoughts from a long time ago. Namely, that you don't have to slay all the dragons, just the next one. Overwhelmed much? Maybe you will be reminded too over here.
"For most American children summer break is at hand, bringing with it the promise of cloudless, blue skies overhead, sprinklers spraying, and fireflies to chase before bed. There are ball games, freshly cut grass, and leisurely mornings to sleep in.
For their parents it may be a different story…"
Stressed over summer break? Feel like you should be doing more? You can jump over here for my take over at Tan Homeschool today. (hint – if your summer is looking anything like this, I think you're probably doing just fine.)
I hope you are scooping up joy by the bucketful this summer. : )
Starry Sky Journal 