For Hire!

Do you need a handy-man? Exterminator? Carpenter? Super-Hero? These two are quite a talented team and they work cheap!

The "Dog Days" of School

These cold, snowy February days are really the "dog days" of school for us. We're plowing ahead with our Kindergarten and pre-Kindergarten work. When all of the other children are thrilled about snow days off from school, we gather around the table and work hard. We prefer to take fun days off when it's sunny and warm and everyone else is stuck in school! ;)

This month we're learning about animal groups, Antarctica, and Presidents. Ray is reading and adding well. Adam's handwriting is impressive for a four year old. In the afternoons we love curling up on the couch with some read-alouds. We just finished Little House in the Big Woods. (I had always considered the Little House series to be "girlish"... but my friends told me the first few books especially focus on Pa and great boy things like hunting. They were right. My boys are really into it!)

So, we're just plowing ahead with school work and beginning to long for some warm spring days. I can barely remember the last time we were outside to play.

Meanwhile, Jon is in "tax season mode." He's ramped up his hours, staying late at the office or going back in after the kids are in bed. Fortunately, he loves his work. I am so thankful for how hard he works for us. It's getting easier for me and the boys to get into our own schedule and just support him in his work. When they were babies I would just count the minutes until he got home. It's definitely easier now.

As I think about what we've been doing for the past several days (and why I haven't posted anything), I am reminded of the movie Groundhog's Day, where the same sequence of events played out over and over again. That's pretty much how it's been here. Learning, eating, playing, sleeping.... dishes, laundry, bills. It's pretty basic and repetitive, but it's good. It's all good. I have NOT succumbed to the "February Funk." Thank you, God, for the ordinary everyday routine... for the graces that go unnoticed... for your faithfulness and love. Amen.

Weekend Retreat



"We have given a year to the body. Let us give days to the soul."
(Painted on the back of Saint Therese Retreat Center chapel.)

I had the great privilege of spending this weekend at one of our diocesan retreat centers with a wonderful group of holy women. I have journeyed with some of these women for many years, since I taught and then was Pastoral Associate at their parish (Saint Philip the Apostle). For the past three years I was honored to lead them in this annual retreat. This year I got to take a break and partake in the rest, relaxation, inspiration, and rejuvenation of the retreat as a participant rather than a leader.



I am very thankful to Jon for watching the boys so I could take this time for physical and spiritual renewal. They had a wonderful time doing "boy stuff" and attending a bowling party with the people from Jon's office. We missed each other, but I think the break was good for all of us.

The retreat schedule

The theme for the retreat was, "The Spiritual Path to Peace" and it was lead by a Dominican Sister. Although the talks were interesting, the most meaningful and grace-filled parts of the retreat for me were:

1. Just having some time and space for quiet and relaxation.

2. Personal prayer in the chapel and in my room. Not rushed or rote. Real prayer.

3. The opportunity to read more of One Thousand Gifts. I continue to be awed and graced by Ann Voskamp's holy wisdom. Almost every page is dog-eared. I am beginning my own journey of recognizing God's grace everywhere and living a life of gratitude.

Saint Therese Retreat Center is a very special place for me, partly because of all the memories it holds. I have been to this holy place many times and with many groups of amazing people. I made a weeklong retreat there as a Dominican novice, Jon and I attended an amazing Engaged Encounter weekend there, and I have led and been on numerous women's retreat weekends. I even have a special room where I like to stay. It is filled with holy memories and I love reflecting each year on the ways God has been faithful through so many changes in my life. Many, many graces have been showered upon me there and many significant insights and decisions have had their beginnings on this holy ground.

The beautiful chapel at the retreat center



The dome above the altar

"And they were all persevering with one mind in prayer with Mary the Mother of Jesus."





As I mentioned, the women in this retreat group are amazing! They are such beautiful witnesses to the love and power of God. Many of these women have been coming on retreat together for DECADES. Each year is like a reunion. They have supported one another through the ups and downs of life, including illnesses and loss of loved ones. I am always amazed by their hospitality, support, love, and JOY. We ALWAYS have fun on this retreat. (When I first came to this group, my primary experience of retreat was with nuns. Let me tell you, this is a very different experience.) We talk. We dance. We do art projects. And for the last two years we've had SPA NIGHT! All of the ladies enjoy facials, manicures, foot soaks, etc. We really take care of our bodies as well as our souls.



Check out my fancy manicure - pink nails with a tiny purple heart on each one!

And so tonight I am thanking God for the graces of a special retreat weekend. It was wonderful! There were so many little things that made it extra special --- little treats and gifts at the dining room table, good food prepared by staff and volunteers, conversations and hugs from holy women. The retreat leader ended by having us each choose a blessing from this wreath:

We blessed one another and went forth rejuvenated to continue our life with Christ and with our families. When I think about some of the emotional sharing and funny escapades that have happened on retreats over the years, part of me wants to declare, "What happens on retreat stays on retreat!" But I know that's not true. What happens in our hearts and minds and souls on retreat nourishes us throughout the year. It strengthens us as disciples and equips us for the life to which we've been called. Thank you Jesus... for all of the graces of this holy weekend.

Fighting the "February Funk"

I will not succumb to the February Funk.
I will not succumb to the February Funk.
I will not succumb to the February....
I will not succumb....
I will not...

Ah, here we are at the first day of my least favorite month.... the longest shortest month of the year. I could give you a litany of why February is so dreadful.... about the ice that is coating everything outside... about the little boys bouncing off the walls inside.... about painful memories of heartbreak... about germs and dust and general malaise. I could. But I won't.

I am counting my blessings, grateful for a warm house and healthy children and a loving husband and time to think and cuddle and relax and pray. I am TRYING HARD to embrace this time of hibernation... to be OK with downtime... to relax... to listen and learn.

Thank you God for all that you are doing in my heart. Fill us all with your grace in new ways during these cold and quiet winter days. Melt the places that we keep frozen in our hearts. Hold us where it hurts the most. Remind us of your ever-present, ever-faithful love. May we embrace this chilly season with hope, confident that the blossoming of Spring will happen in our minds and hearts as well as in our backyards. We ask this in the name of Jesus, Our Lord and Savior. Amen.

A Litany of FUN February "stuff" we're doing here:

*Talking about trains... preparing to build our first electric train layout.
*Playing lots of games.
*Reading and writing and counting.
*Making Valentine cards and crafts and treats.
*Looking for groundhogs and shadows.
*Feeding birds and squirrels.
*Listening to "Peter and the Wolf" and other fun music.
*Reading "Little House in the Big Woods."
*Making spaghetti and marshmallow structures. (A new favorite pastime!)

 *Sharing our art with our friends at Monday class.

  

*Getting outside as much as possible.

*Eating ice cream for dessert, even though it's freezing outside.

*Singing and dancing and marching around the house.

*Staying in our pajamas all day.

*Discovering new online games for little learners.

*Playing wild games of chase and ball in the basement with daddy.

*Staying up late.... since we won't be going anywhere in the morning!

I hope you're all staying warm and happy. What are you doing to keep these FABULOUS FEBRUARY DAYS fun?

Get.This.Book!

For many months I have enjoyed Ann Voskamp's blog, http://www.aholyexperience.com/. She is a holy, profound, poetic writer. She is a kindred spirit, a homeschooling mom on the Christian journey. I had heard some good things about her newly published book, One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are, so I decided to add it to a recent Amazon order.

I have read 48 pages and I am absolutely, profoundly changed. I am savoring every word, pondering so many amazing insights, re-reading, praying. It has been many years since I've read anything that has touched me so deeply. I am at once affirmed and challenged. Her words are truly grace-filled. I am hearing God's voice through hers.

Her main point thus far is: by giving thanks in and for everything, we come to experience the fullness of salvation in Christ and the fullness of joy that comes with it. Voskamp, a non-denominational Christian, focuses on the term eucharisteo. She uses Scripture passages and personal experiences to highlight true thanks-giving as the gateway to joy and peace.

I want to devour this book in one night, yet I know it needs to be taken slowly. I am already planning to read it through once and then immediately start over again to digest it more fully.

So - without reading even half of it - I'm giving this book my highest recommendation. I hope you'll get your hands on a copy and we can talk about it together soon!

Blessings for a holy and happy week!

Lessons Out the Window

We were a bit sluggish this morning. As I was trying to herd the boys to the school table for some lessons, we heard a rumbling outside. As soon as we looked out the window the boys ran to get chairs and this is where they stayed for quite a while ----

What was so interesting?

Heavy equipment. Backhoe. Various plumbing trucks. Pump. Workers.

VERY exciting stuff!

Ray narrated the whole process. He spoke with such confidence about how to operate the backhoe and what the workers were doing and why. The boys went upstairs and looked out of other windows to get alternate views.

I should have taken more pictures later in the day. As it turns out, the neighbors' sewer line broke. The workers dug an eleven foot deep hole and are replacing 30 feet of pipe! They had to cut down a beautiful tree. There is a HUGE pile of dirt. The workers just left for the night, but all the equipment is there for more work tomorrow. Yikes! The project is providing lots of entertainment and sparking much discussion in our homeschool though.

When I finally got the boys to sit down at the school table, we looked out the window to the back yard and found a different kind of action. A few weeks ago we had hung out some dried apples and some bagels with peanut butter and bird seed. They've been pretty much untouched. This morning, however, we watched and giggled as a squirrel figured out -- after several funny failed attempts -- how to get to the dried apples (which were on the green string you can see in the picture below). He nibbled away at one apple and then dragged the whole string of apples away with him for later.

So, just by looking out the windows we had a few science lessons before we even opened a book. We did get some good schoolwork done today. We also went to the rec center for Adam's art and gymnastics classes while Ray went to his Lego club. And the boys FINALLY got some long-overdue haircuts.

Time to pull the drapes and head up for baths and stories and bedtime! I'm sure there will be more adventures tomorrow.

Our Recent Art Endeavors

As I mentioned in the last post, we are focusing on art and music in our homeschool this month. Here are a few of our recent art activities.

The boys have been spending big chunks of time mixing colors. Adam especially enjoys making rows and rows of different hues using watercolors and a medicine dropper. It's so great that they are finally at an age where they can do this kind of activity relatively independently without making a huge mess.



I was really disappointed that the boys were sick and had to miss last week's co-op class. The focus for the class was sacred art and music. My mom watched my boys long enough for me to go and get my class organized and hand things off to another mom. Basically, we talked about the important role of monasteries in the development of such great treasures of sacred art and music. We listened to Gregorian chant and looked at beautiful icons. Then the children had the opportunity to paint their own icons. The whole experience was rooted in prayer and I heard that they made beautiful icons.

I brought the icon materials home for my boys to do here. Unfortunately, they were not very interested in my explanations of icons. Adam just could not wait to use the gold paint. He proceeded to paint his entire plaque gold... I think he did about 7 coats of gold. I could not persuade him to paint even a cross on top of that shiny gold paint. He insisted that it is perfect and holy and shiny just as it is. Now, a few days later, it is displayed on our prayer table and I am beginning to think he is right.

Ray did get a bit more into the process. He painted Jesus sitting on a stool holding a pink Bible. He told me that it's Jesus teaching the little children. He then painted a big (BACKWARDS) J on the icon so everyone would know that it's Jesus. I was proud of him and I gave him a second plaque so he could paint a train. (Adam was still painting layers of gold on his!)

The most memorable part of the icon activity was the clean-up. I sent Adam into the bathroom to wash the gold paint off his hands. Ray helped me clean up the table. When I got to the bathroom I found water flowing over the edge of the counter and TWO FEET (I'm not exaggerating!) of soap bubbles rising up out of the sink. Adam laughed an "I'm sorry" at me. The triumph of the day for me was that I calmly told him, "For your safety, you need to go up to your room right now" and I cleaned it up. I really heard God chuckling at me. I knew I had been pushing an agenda .... wanting the boys to draw beautiful holy images exactly the way I invisioned. And I knew God was reminding me to see Him in soap bubbles and mischievious boys. It really was sacred art. (But so much for them being able to do art without making big messes.)

Lastly, today we looked at some artwork by Wassily Kandinsky. We talked about abstract art and we decided to make our own art inspired by this Kandinsky painting:

We had a great time with this. We drew the circles with oil pastels and then painted over each square with a different shade of watercolor. I was especially impressed by the thought and focus that Ray put into his. Of course both boys put their own twist into their pieces. I think they turned out really nice. We are going to enter them into next week's Art and Music Showcase with our co-op.

Ray's Masterpiece -

Adam's Masterpiece -