A Simple Twist of Faith

Around the Fire

It has been awhile since this picture was taken, which tells me , husband extraordinaire and I need some time for us, and just us.  Many couples have regular date nights, a night on the town or a special weekend away.  One of the most relaxing things for my husband and I do is to share a beer around our fire pit.  After the girls go to bed, on clear, cool nights, we head outside in our backyard, sit in our Adirondack chairs, and start a fire. There is something so restful about gazing into the flames. We have our best conversations around that fire pit.  We talked about everything and nothing at all.  We reminisce about when we first met.  We remember times long ago, of our parents, of our respective childhoods.  We talk of the future: plans, and dreams of our children and for ourselves.  Looking at this picture, has given me an idea. As soon as "the great flood" ends in our part of the country, and the firewood dries, I think we will have to meet by the fire again.

WW: Waiting for Mommy

Three days a week, I leave my house before my girls are up, and see my neighbor's children off to school, this is what I have waiting for me when I return.  What a blessing!

Without going crazy in the process

On Tuesdays, I usually hook up with Jamie at Steady Mom for her 30-Minute Blog Challenge.  Today is no exception , especially since I could really relate to her post entitled Are You an Introverted Mom? In my recent voyage into self-awareness, I come to realize I too am an introvert, however, unlike Jamie, my personality type best resembles ISTJ. Going on five months now, I have been challenged by my role of full-time home schooling Mom.  Being a task-oriented gal, I am focused on learning how  to be the best Mom I can be without going crazy in the process.  I would like to share with you some recent posts I read that have helped me a great deal in understanding myself. The first article is by Jennifer of the Conversion Diary subtitled A Few Things I’ve Learned from Having Four Kids in Five Years.  I felt she was writing the "Know Thyself" section of the post directly to me.  I need to print it on and tape it to my bathroom mirror. The other two posts are on Perfection, one written by Dan of Single Dad Laughing, and the other as a response to Dan's essay written by my friend, Carmen. So, did you read them?  What do you think?  Being the practical person,  I can appreciate Jennifer's tips on understanding my personality type, and my need for quiet time.  I have also learned  I have to pick and choose my priorities and things will never be perfect.  This has been a hard realization for me, so I can definitely identify  Dan's and Carmen's candid yet inspiring posts. Right now, I should be:

• Cleaning my kitchen which looks like a bomb exploded peanut butter, jelly and milk.
• Weeding my garden, which is overgrown and probably has poison ivy in it.
• Exercising with weights, so I can strength by my upper body
• Sewing Halloween costumes, so I don't have to race out and buy something at the last minute.
• Organizing my home schooling cabinet, so my child is not hurt by the avalanche of books when she opens it tomorrow morning.

But instead I am writing this post, and enjoying my quiet time so I won't be cranky to my girls.

Do I Know Me?

When I first read Stephen Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families, I realized my biggest weakness was my lack of self-awareness.  After spending five months at home with my girls, I have come to realize that the same triggers that can lead to meltdowns in them also apply to me: Lack of Sleep: This is probably my biggest challenge, I do not sleep nearly enough.  If I get 6 1/2 hours of sleep at night, that is a victory.  Today, my husband was complaining, "So and so, takes a nap every Sunday."  I have tried naps, but I cannot go to sleep.  My best chance of getting more sleep, is going to bed earlier. I have set a goal of a 10:00 pm bedtime this week. Of course, tonight Mad Men is on at 10:00 pm, the one and only TV show I watch, so that blows that plan.  Oh well, I'll start on Monday...    Food and Drink:  I am proud to say I have kicked my Diet Coke habit, however I still really need to drink more water and less coffee.  Friday, I fasted and then stood in front of Planned Parenthood in the hot sun with no water, and ended up with a migraine headache for Friday and Saturday.  Not good... Quiet Time: Last week we had some fun experiences, however I overscheduled the week.   I now realize my children and I are happiest when we have some quiet time in the afternoon.  This means having all home schooling activities completed before nap time.  Although, my oldest daughter does not nap anymore, she also needs quiet time away from Mommy.  Last week, she, tired and cranky, said, "Mommy, I am tired of you."  To be quite honest, I completely understood how she felt. Conclusion: I think part of self-awareness comes from knowing my own weaknesses, and avoiding situations which bring them to light.  I need to take care of myself, so I have the proper energy and attitude to take care of children and my husband.  Like the Act of Contrition states, "I firmly resolve with the help of Thy Grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin."

7 Quick Takes Friday Vol.14

 

7 Quick Takes is hosted by Jennifer at Conversion Diary.   Here's my weekly round-up: 1. Sunday, we started going back to 9:00 am Mass.  We usually go to Saturday vigil during the summer months. During the school year, 9:00 mass includes Liturgy of the Word for children.  The kids go to classrooms during the scripture readings and sermon.  It's basically Sunday school, and the ladies who teach do a wonderful job.   This Sunday, my friend, who teaches the 3-6 class, asked for my help... here I am Lord, is it I Lord? 2. Monday was not a great day for me as a Mother.  You can read more about the details here.  However, the whole episode did have some positive effects on my children.  Since Monday, both of my girls, but especially my five-year old, have been more loving and respectful to their dear old Mom.  Maybe, I need more time outs! 3. Tuesday was a great experience at Colonial Williamsburg.  I cannot thank my friend, Kathy, enough for the invitation and loaning her handmade colonial attire to my girls.  Now, I know what my new sewing project will be for me and the girls.  Hopefully, I will have the costumes completed when the Spring Home Educator Week rolling around in February 2011. 4. Wednesday was a catch up today for me, with unfolded laundry (although clean!) piled three feet high of my sofa.  My three-year old was a great help in sorting and delivering the clothes back to their drawers.  Bumblebee was so helpful and cheerful, she made this very mundane task enjoyable. 5. Thursday, due to the backlog of household chores, I reluctantly went to my Moms' Prayer Group.  It was a small group this week, but there were some very inspiring faith stories, so I am glad I took the time to attend.  Yes, the housework can wait and I WILL eventually clean my bathrooms!  6. Today, I start my peaceful one hour vigil at the abortion clinic for 40 Days for Life.  I am anxious, however I know the Holy Spirit is guiding me to do this. My neighbor will be watching my children, so they will be safe and sound. 7. Saturday, who knows what the weekend will bring?  I wish you all a relaxing and peaceful weekend.  Enjoy your families, and let me know what's up in your neck of the woods.

Wordless Wednesday: Math Lessons

7 Quick Takes Friday: Volume Lucky 13

1.  As many of you know, I watch my friend' s children three mornings a week  before school. However, Thursday is one of my free days. Yesterday I woke up to a beautiful cool, sunshiny day.  I decided to go for an early morning run in my neighborhood.  I jogged for 45 minutes, and it felt great.  The weather was perfect, I heard the birds, and it cleared my mind.  I think I will run again next Thursday. 2. Speaking of exercise, in my Mom's Prayer Group this week, several of the Moms shared that they prayed during their exercise routine.  One Mom stated praying the rosary while she ran even helped to slower her heart rate.  3. Ladybug has three pages to go with her first Kindergarten Phonics book.  She is so excited. We are also using the Ordinary Parent's Guide to Reading, and on our third set of Bob Books, both which I highly recommend.  Another unexpected teaching aid, has been the Leap Frog Fridge Phonics, we bought for her second birthday.  We moved the phonic set into our sun room which now doubles as our school room, and have been using it daily for word combinations such as: bug,rug,dug. 4. Speaking of teaching aids, I love Dollar Tree! Their Teaching Tree materials are great.  We use them for the weather, days of the week, and the upper and lower case alphabet, not bad for a $3.00 investment. 5. Wednesday, as we were taking our morning break from home schooling, and I was running on the elliptical, I witnessed my five-year old holding up flash cards and quizzing my three-year old on her shapes.  For fifteen minutes, they worked together, way to go girls! 6. Some type of critter came into my husband's vegetable garden, destroyed his newly sown broccoli plants, knocked over a few tomato plants, and even removed the lid from his water bucket.   Rick fought back by purchasing some materials off of Craig's list and building a  fence around the vegetables.  I wish we had a critter cam! 7. This 7 Quick Takes Friday is hosted by Jennifer at the Conversion Diary.