Wondrous Wednesdays (12)



In the spirit of gratitude, I’m listing wondrous things happening in my world every week on Wednesday.  If you are a blogger and want to list what you are grateful for, feel free to do the same on your own blog every week and please be sure to link back to my blog.   If you are not a blogger, feel free to comment here on my blog with your own three wondrous things you are grateful for on Wednesday. 

(1)

It's absolutely wondrous how easily Alicia has gone to bed the past two nights, when for three or four nights in a row it was over two hours of struggle.  It was starting to become a nightmare but I decided to stagger bedtimes so long as Hannah has only had one nap.  Hannah goes to bed first and when she's just about alseep I start the routine with Alicia.  This way Alicia is pretty tired after going all day without a nap.  I I think she feels more safe with me staying in the room, so it's been working out alright so far. 


(2)

What is also wondrous about this new routine is that it gives me a time of quiet for prayer. Time to pray for my girls, talk to God about what is really important.  I've been finding that I'm making some progress.  FINALLY after what seems like maybe a few years of confessing the same thing I may actually make some headway on prayer.  The recommendation of our new pastor helped too.  There are lots of little moments when I'm stressed, aggravated, or the girls do something really sweet, cute or have a fit of the giggles.  These are all times I can use for quick little prayers when I can either ask for help in moments of difficulty or give a quick praise to God for these endearing moments.  So far this idea has really worked out well for me.  I'm hoping to continue to make progress with prayer.


(3)
The last class we taught this past Sunday for the confirmation students was about dating with purity and purpose.  For the most part, disregarding the handouts thrown in the trash on their way out by a select few, the students definitely were paying more attention.  Probably because it was more a how to live this stuff out, a class that was more a guide about dating.  It was truly wondrous to see them sitting there actually looking at us instead of with their heads down, giggling over whatever it is that caused them some distraction.  I still wish that they opened up for discussion a little more, but the seeds are planted and maybe some of them will talk about the class with each other outside of the classroom.  And maybe, next time around, we will manage to figure out a way to get them to open up earlier than the last week of class.  

Seven Quick Takes Friday (14)

Thanks to Jen at Conversion Diary for hosting.  I have no idea what I'm going to write about for my quick takes this week.  May be a complete jumble...

-1-
Hannah, our one year old, has been saying new words like crazy.  I think I need to start writing them down.  She says the usual: mama, dada, up, down, hi, bye, dog, ball; but also some not so usual: memere, pepere, nana, nano, football, touchdown (raises her hands in the air for touchdown!), Dinosaur (dine-so), stinky (tink-ee), cookie, Alicia (lee-cia)... jeeze why can't I remember more.  The second child learns so quickly!  It's truly amazing!

-2-
For having done no advertising other than the brochures from our parish, we had six people walk through the doors Thursday night for our parish's Coming Home to Catholicism program.  Really the best way to bring people back home is that personal invitation, so even during this time of transition at our church, our parishioners continue to take the message to heart and invite people through the brochures.  I am very interested to see what our new pastor will say next week to these people who are re-exploring their faith and thinking about coming back to the church.  These people are dealing with lots of issues, but our new priest seems personable and I hope he will be able to make a positive impact.  They have come into those doors for a reason.  I will pray that they find what they are looking for.

-3-
New TV shows this week.  I've come to realize that my TV watching has really dropped off since having children.  The only shows I really care about are Parenthood, Biggest Loser, the Mentalist (I'm actually watching while I'm writing this on Thursday night.  Ok, well sort of watching.) and Criminal Minds.  The only one I actually have been able to watch was Criminal Minds and that is only because my parent's cable includes DVR.  It's probably for the best.  I used to watch far too much TV.

-4-
Caught up with a very good friend that I hadn't spoken to in almost a year.  I missed her so much, but I knew she was having a difficult time since her two miscarriages and knew that she needed to be in touch with me in her own time, especially since I have two young children.  I'm really looking forward to figuring out a date that we can get together and meet up in person, without the girls of course.  Some things just take time and I admire her for being honest about what she can and cannot handle.  There is so much going on in both of our lives that is parallel.  Even when life is difficult and friends share similar difficulties it can be comforting to know others are experiencing the same things.  You do not wish difficulties on them, but it helps you to realize you aren't alone.

-5-
Hubby and I start teaching Theology of the Body for teens, part two, at our parish on Sunday.  The church's teaching of how our sexuality actually points us to God is so important to learn today, and not just as a teen.  I wish more people would look into it.  Whether or not these teens open their hearts to this important teaching remains to be seen.  I hope that at least it is something that if they do not embrace now, that they return to the information at a later point in life.  Just hoping to plant the seed of thought for them.  Teens today like to question authority - parents, teachers, leaders of all types really, so why not have them question what society accepts as the norm?

-6-
A lesson that I need to learn and follow a bit more:

“You say grace before meals. All right. But I say grace before the concert and the opera, and grace before the play and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing and grace before I dip the pen in the ink.”  G.K. Chesterton

I say grace before all meals with the girls, but there are many important times that I need to incorporate prayers into my life.  Not just when eating.  I need to strengthen my relationship with God and I'll be honest with you, I try, but sometimes I just don't live it.  I have great intentions, I try to open my life to pray more to God and I start out great.  Why is it so difficult to take this time?  I need to pray more, goodness knows there is plenty I have to talk to God about.  The girls need to see me pray more.  *sigh*  I should put sticky notes everywhere... with cement glue...

-7-

Have I complained about the never ending parade of laundry?  Right now I have about four loads or so that I need to do and the past few days I think I have done about four or five loads.  There are only four of us, so why does it seem as though to keep on top of it I would have to do at least two loads of laundry a day?  That would be manageable if I could manage my time better.  But I can't.  I get pulled into those things that just eat away at your time:  getting ready for some presentation - party - class - or other event, the new changes on FB, writing a blog post here, reading other people's blogs far too late into the night.  I think I need to force myself to get better at time management.  Not sure how to accomplish that exactly.  I guess I'll just add it to the "to do " list. ;)

Have a great weekend everyone!

Wondrous Wednesdays (3)

In the spirit of gratitude, I’m going to be listing wondrous things happening in my world every week on Wednesday.  I chose to list three things because Wednesday is the third day of the week.  If you are a blogger and want to list what you are grateful for, feel free to do the same on your own blog every week and please be sure to link back to my blog.   If you are not a blogger, feel free to comment here on my blog with your own three wondrous things you are grateful for on Wednesday. 

(1)
My 11 month old baby girl can climb up a whole flight of stairs!  She's doing the physical things much earlier than her big sister, partly because we were probably overly cautious, partly because her big sister didn't have another little person showing her how things work.  I'm also amazed at how quickly Hannah can crawl to get into things she shouldn't - ie. banging on a glass door, getting into the dog's food dish and getting into the bathroom if we happen to leave the door open.  Hannah is going to be a fun, mischievous child!

(2)
I'm thankful that the news we were waiting for didn't turn out to be bad news.  The morning we received news that we would have to wait to get our answer, I had just heard how sometimes timing isn't what we want, but we have to sometimes be patient and keep relationships strong.  The timing of this message, which was on Catholic radio, was perfect - God sent!  So hopefully this is just a delay in the good news.  I'm praying that it will all happen in God's time.  Just need to hang onto the hope and have faith that things will get better.

(3)
I am hoping to make a wondrous veggie lasagna tonight.  I have made it in the past, but I never following an actual recipe so it is always a surprise.  When I see eggplant and zucchini or other veggies I use on sale at the store, I get what I need and get to it.  It never turns out the same, but it usually is quite delicious.  Excited about food, well there's a surprise! 

 

It's Ok to Fall, and It's Ok to Receive Assistance.

So, I went to reconciliation again  last night.  Ahhh, that feels better...  AAHH wait!!?!  I forgot to confess some things!  Have you ever done that?  Gone in with an idea of what you're going to confess, then get really focused on one or two things and then draw a big blank and only get through some part of your "list?"  Maybe I should have turned right around and gone back, but I guess those failings will have to wait until next go 'round.  I'm sure there will be more sins I can list in another couple of weeks.  Maybe it is time for me to go more regularly than the two or three times a year I go.  I could certainly use his mercy and grace more often these days!

At any rate, the recommendation of the priest tonight made so much sense to me, that I'm not sure why I didn't think of this myself.  Going to confession tonight not only gave me God's great mercy, grace and love, but it also gave me a fresh perspective on how to work through my current difficulties.  He simply said, "Don't piggyback everything on top of each other.  Take it one day at a time.  Deal with what you HAVE to."

"Don't piggyback!"  Ok, he probably knows me better than I think he does.  I definitely do this.  Maybe a lot of us do and that's why he recommended this for me.  One bad thing happens, then I worry about other things it could potentially lead to, and what may happen from there and on and on and on.  The freeflow thinking can be limitless when your mind gets rolling.  Stress abounds.  If I were to stop piggybacking, maybe I wouldn't exponentially increase my stress levels and get so angry or upset.  What a good recommendation! 

"One day at a time!"  Isn't that all we really can do?  While we can try to plan ahead, things don't always work out how we hope they will.  We have to learn to deal with the here and now.  Just take it as it comes.  Meet each day with it's hope and potential and do the best you can with it.  Another home run!

"Deal with what you have to!"  Let everything else that is non-essential just roll right off your back.  Sometimes taking such a limited approach seems like you are doing only what you have to in order to get by without going above and beyond.  But sometimes, even just doing only what you have to is what helps you to get through it all.  Sometimes taking on more than what is essential can be just too much.  Less is more.  I definitely like that one!

We all have our moments when we we fall.  Even Jesus did!  Think about that - Jesus who was truly God, but also truly man, fell under the burden of his cross.  Jesus has walked our walk, felt our pain, endured suffering, been tempted by the devil.  Yes, He IS God, but He knows what it is to be human.  We need to remember that when Jesus was carrying his cross up to Calvary, he fell, not once, not twice, but three times.  He got back up, and, perhaps more importantly, he received assistance - Simon helped him carry his cross - after the first time he fell.  I think sometimes our pride is hurt when we have to rely on others for assistance.  We like to feel like we can do it all.  Our society tells us that we should do it all.  But sometimes, we have to be humble enough to admit that it's ok to fall, and it's ok to receive assistance. 

Not only is it a good lesson for us - this learning that it's ok to fall and it's ok to receive assistance - but if you have children, as we do, it is a good lesson for them as well.  Our children learn from us, like it or not.  When they see us fail, they will see how we cope with that failure.  They will see us humbly admitting our faults.  They will see us learn how to get up again, pick up the cross and continue on.  They will learn how to accept the love and compassion from others who help us in our time of need.  They will learn that failure does not equal defeat.

So, don't feel like you to have to go it alone.  If there is a Simon in your life ready to assist you, don't be afraid to humbly take him up on it.  He may be able to lighten your burden.  And if you see no personal individual assistance at the ready, go to God.  Take it to Him and he will assist you, maybe in ways you never thought possible.

Not Often Enough

Since my two daughters have been sick, one with bronchitis and one with bronchiolitis, we've been watching, Fox and the Hound far too much.  But in doing so, I've realized where my two year old daughter picked up the phrase "Friends forever!"  A few weeks back she would come up to me, say "friends forever" and give me a big hug.  I wondered where she picked it up, but I guess now I KNOW we watch FAR too much TV.  Not that I needed any reminder really.

I have to say that I love it when I come home from my part time job outside of the home and my two year old comes into the kitchen saying, "MAMA!  It's you!  I Love you soooo much!"  For some reason it struck me, just the other day, that is the kind of childlike love and affection we should have for God. 

Oddly enough, my relationship with God and my prayer life improved shortly after I met my husband, became even better after we were married and then improved even more after having children.  If you asked me about prayer before I was married, I would probably say that it was an occasional occurrence.  Don't get me wrong, there are days that it still is like that and I struggle to remember from time to time.  But how can I forget to tell God how much I love him?  He has blessed me in so many ways, it seems as though remembering to pray should not be so difficult.  I definitely make an effort to learn more about my Catholic faith and the "whys" behind the Church's teachings, but for some reason personal prayer is something I struggle with, even if it has vastly improved in recent years.

For me, I have my list of family members and friends where I pray for their special intentions and I read from scripture at night for the next day followed by "The Word Among Us" reflection for the day.  I do mealtime and bedtime prayers with my two year old.  I love hearing her say "Father, Son, Holy Spirit, AMEN!  Bless Lord These Gifts Bout Receive Bounty Christ Lord AMEN!  Father Son, Holy Spirit AMEN!"  She used to actually do the sign of the cross, but now it's just touching her head followed by the prayer.  She also will go through "Now I lay me down to sleep" with my prompting certain words and she finishes the rest of the phrase. 

Somehow, I know that this is not enough.  I should be waking up thinking of Him, making morning prayer a priority but I tend to rush right into my day, or hit the snooze button one too many times.  Maybe if I can at least get in a morning, "God I love you!  Thank you for all the blessings you have given me!"  Sometimes while I am nursing my six month old during her first feeding of the day, I do stop to pray to God, but I can become easily distracted.  And occasionally throughout the day, I do find myself thinking about God and saying a quick little "Hey!"  These small moments where I occasionally "remember" to include God in my day just doesn't seem like enough.  Prayer should be simple really, it's all about spending time.  Think about it. How did you get to know your family members, your best friend, your spouse?  Spending time, right?  So, why is spending time with God something that doesn't come all that easy?  Maybe it's because we can't actually see Him.  Maybe all the priorities in our life are getting in our way.  God deserves way better than that!  I know I can and should do more.

It seems as though I tend to put too much thought into structured type prayer but not enought thought OF taking time for prayer.  My attitude towards God should be the same as my young children feel for me.  "I love you, God, SOOOO much!"  How often do I say this to Him?  How often do I even FEEL this childlike love and affection for God or think of it in this way?  Not often enough.  Definitely something I need to work on.  I want to feel that "friends forever" feeling with God.  Sadly, I'm not sure I'm there yet. There is still more to do.