A Simple Twist of Faith

Come on, Irene!

First, I want to thank God for keeping my family safe during Hurricane Irene.  My biggest fear was that a tree would go through my house and kill one of my beautiful babies.  That did not happen in fact, we were very lucky all around, no damages, just a lot of yard work, and no power, or internet...

Today, I am back!  Here are some of the sights, sounds and smells of the past 72 hours.

Look who I found in the garden...

7 Quick Takes Friday Vol. 46

1.

Today with Hurricane Irene fast approaching, I will be running all over the place getting things prepared. Part of me just wants to get out of Dodge, but with the freeway looking like a parking lot, I think we will stay, hope and pray.

2.

Thursday the smoke from the Great Dismal Swamp fires was so thick and nasty, the kids did not go outside and play.   We went to the library.  Ladybug told me she was too big for Henry and Mudge books and selected one from the Magic Tree House series instead. Last night, she ran down the hallway so excited,

"Mommy, Mommy, I read the first two chapters all by myself. I sounded out the hard words!"

3.

Wednesday was my first day of my new job, providing after school care and home work help for two sweet young ladies.   Let's see if I am up to the challenge of 5th grade Math!   

4.

Tuesday was the earthquake; the girls and I were at the kiddy water park in our Local Botanical Gardens by the airport.  An airplane flew overhead, and my friend said, "That jet was close, did you feel that?"  We didn't even realize it was an earthquake.  

5.

Monday I finally made a decision whether or not, to home school Ladybug this academic year.  My husband gave me great advice in telling to write about my decision and why I made it.  The act of doing that really helped me, and now, I am at peace with that decision.

6.

Well, for all of you on the Eastern seaboard my prayers will be with you this weekend.  Here is the reflection for the weekend:

"I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." (John 10:10)

7.

For more Quick Takes, please check out Jennifer at Conversion Diary.    

 

Through Love and Desire

I read this in the Magnificat's Mediation of the Day  and thought to share it with you, my friends :

"The access to heaven is through desire. He who longs to  there really is there in spirit.  The path to heaven is measured by desire and not by miles.  For this reason Saint Paul says in one of his epistles,

Tackle It Tuesday # 9: The Guest Room

Some people have junk drawers, some people have junk closets, some people, like my friend, Bridget jokes, have junk tables.  But I have a secret weapon in the war against clutter, it's called the guest room.  When people come over, I just throw all my junk into it and lock the door.

This week I cleaned it out, we will see how long this lasts.  At least, I took pictures so I can remember how it looked.

Before

 

and After:

The Big Decision

How can I express myself in a coherent way about my thought process in making one of the  most difficult decisions I have ever made? I will say I have praying a lot over this decision and asking the Lord to show me the way.

 

I have a big announcement, one that may shock you, one that may have you shaking your head in bewilderment.  I have decided to enroll my six year old in public school for first grade this fall. 

Yes, I have bought all the home schooling books, yes I have send the letter of intent to our local school district, yes I have painstakingly constructed her curriculum, and even designed daily lesson plans.

Several things have happened over the past few weeks which have caused me to change our educational plans for Ladybug.

I have been offered two options to earn money.  Since January, we have been without dental and vision insurance.  At the time, our health insurance coverage changed, and we no longer had access to employer sponsored insurance. Please note we follow a strict budget and do not use credit anymore.  This gap in our coverage has been keeping me up at night, and I have been praying that God would show me a way on how to afford this insurance on our monthly budget. With Bumblebee needing eye glasses, and Ladybug on the verge of getting her adult teeth, I feel God offered me solution that would pay for these two additional bills.  However, there is a catch, and of course, it is time, but not only time but energy.  Both of these options wonderful opportunities, and I am very excited about them.  But I was left wondering how I would be able to juggle these new responsibilities while home schooling my two daughters.

12 Things I Wish I Knew at 25

My husband who will be celebrating his 50th birthday next spring, shared this post with me tonight, it was so good, and so true, I had to pass it along...

from Rev. James Martin, Society of Jesus, on the occasion of his 50th birthday:

"For a lark yesterday, on my 50th birthday, I Tweeted 12 things that I wish I had known at 25. Or more accurately, 12 things that, had I put them into action, would have made my life a lot easier. Some are bits of advice that wisdom figures have told me and took years to sink in. Others are the result of some hard knocks. A few are insights from the great spiritual masters that I've adapted for my own life. Maybe a few will help someone you know who's 25. Maybe one or two will help you.

1. First up: Stop worrying so much! It's useless. (I.e. Jesus was right.)

2. Being a saint means being yourself. Stop trying to be someone else and just be your best self. Saves you heartache.

3. There's no right way to pray, any more than there's a right way to be a friend. What's "best" is what works best for you.

4. Remember three things and save yourself lots of unneeded heartache: You're not God. This ain't heaven. Don't act like a jerk.

5. Your deepest, most heartfelt desires are God's desires for you. And vice versa. Listen. And follow them.

6. Within you is the idea of your best self. Act as if you were that person and you will become that person, with God's grace.

Continue reading here

7 Quick Takes Friday Volume 45

1.

Last week Bumblebee had her four year old check-up at the pediatrician.  I like her doctor, she is a Mom first, doctor second.  While Dr. S genuinely loves children; she is also a practical, no nonsense type of gal.  She always starts the appointment like a game asking Bumblebee questions, and pretending Dora was in Bumblebee’s ear.  At the end of the check-up, Dr. S. said she was amazed at Bumblebee’s social and developmental progress in the past year, and that she deserved a pat on the back which she did, which Bumblebee thought that was hilarious.  In this new job of mine, sometimes, I do not feel I get much recognition, but that day I felt the sacrifices my family is making for me to stay home really are paying off.

Tackle It Tuesday # 8: The Girls' Bedroom

 

This summer I decided to join forces with 5 Minutes for Mom, and tackle one big project every week and blog around it.  This week's project had been more than one week's work, but accumulation of a summer's work.

In April, my Ladybug turned six years old.  She asked for two things for her birthday, a DS handheld gaming system, and a bunk bed.  After looking  around at bunk beds, my husband decided he would built one on his own.  When I say, on his own, I mean it.  Rick is your classic Kinesthetic learner.  The bunk bed was totally of his own design, and resembles outdoor play equipment.  This bed is SOLID.  My husband was also on his own time table.  So, it was only appropriate, that the bunk bed project started for Ladybug's birthday on April 8th, would be completed just in time for Bumblebee's birthday on August 8th.

During this time, Ladybug decided how she would like the bunk bed painted. Her inspiration was a Henry and Mudge book,where Annie, Henry's prissy but beloved cousin moves next door.   Mommy did her best to recreate a garden setting, you be the judge...

 

Commitment

Do you ever feel overcommitted?  Overwhelmed?  Often I struggle with these feelings.  Being the detailed-oriented person that I am, I calculate the time it takes for each task, and realize there is no way I am going to get it all done.  I become disappointed in myself, frustrated and irritable with my daughters.  Then I feel guilty, it can be a vicious cycle.  Sometimes, it even brings me to the brink of despair.

Commitment is a very admirable trait.  It brings order out of chaos.  It focuses one’s energies and structures one’s day.  The question I have to ask myself, time and time again, commitment to what?

 

7 Quick Takes: The "I'm 4!"Birthday Edition

1.

This week, we have been busy celebrating Bumblebee turning four.  Monday was her actual  birthday, and she had a great time opening presents, baking cupcakes, and enjoying her special status. You can read more about it here.

2.

Tuesday, we stayed inside mostly due to the hot and humid conditions and terrible air quality due to a fire in the Great Dismal Swamp.  Fortunately, our local library had an event with clowns who created twisted balloon figurines and face painting FOR FREE!  Did I tell you how much I like our local library?  It has been a great resource for us this summer.

 

         3.

Wednesday, we started up Chinese language lesson again with a Simon Says game on parts of the body.  The girls ha a riot with the Chinese name for derriere which is pigu, and are running around singing "Shake, shake, shake your pigu."  I am not sure if I should be laughing or crying.