One month and Michael's antics.

Just wanted to check in at the end of our first month here in Trumau. The weather is cooler now, with occasional windy evenings. Very pleasant days with sunshine, usually.

 

The adjusting continues. Andrew, to classes and much reading outside of class. Me, to long days alone with Michael with no car, limited cookware and no hobby materials = challenges my creativity with how to occupy ourselves! Michael has by now explored every inch of our small apartment and knows it well down to every light switch and heater knob. He and I are learning it's necessary for us to have a little routine so we don't go stir-crazy. I think his molars are coming in, from the amount of drool production and nose running, accompanied by a pretty constant cough lasting a month now. The cough worries me - I hope he is not allergic to something in the apartment. He is chipper enough though, or I would be extra concerned.

I'm back to baking our bread, both to give me something to do and to ensure we are eating as few additives/preservatives as possible as I still struggle to read the German food labels!

 2 zucchini squash from the ITI garden (compared to a beer bottle for actual size) made some nice hearty zucchini bread.

A delicious olive oil raisin bread.

Michael enjoys being master taste-tester - he's easy on me.

This is how yeast, baking powder and baking soda come packaged here. Guess we won't be using baking soda for homemade general purpose cleaner... flour here is still a mystery to me. Austrians seem to take flour quite seriously as there are many different types and grades, all Greek to me at this point but I look forward to experimenting.

A whole wheat bread. Even without my precious Kitchenaid mixer and the strange oven settings here, so far, so good!

 

Michael has been making the most of his small collection of toys. Lately, he enjoys finding the matching animals in this block set and has learned to line them in a straight row.

 

 He enjoys working on his utensil skills.

And utilizing a chair to attain his desired object(s).

 

 Guilty face!

 Taking apart the dishwasher...

Oh, it has wheels!

 He enjoys watching trucks go down the street and the older children playing around the living quadrant.

 

 Sometimes we walk down to the town park.

 Michael likes climbing the small hill the park features...

 ...and running down.

 

Taking it a day at a time, learning to adjust and be thankful for what we do have. Lessons in faith and trust are hard, but fruitful! Truly this is a season in our lives that is free from many distractions, and so for me it is a call to focus on the simple life, and to put more love and purpose into the (sometimes) mundane domestic works. There too can holiness blossom if we remain open...

 

"Holy is the dish and the drain, the soap and sink, and the cup and plate and the warm wool socks, and the cold white tile, showerheads and the good dry towels... and frying eggs sound like psalms, with bits of salt measured in my palm. It's all part of a sacrament, as holy as the day is spent..." -Carrie Newcomer

 

On to the second month!

Reflections for the new year.

Well! Here we are at 2013. A new year. Nothing exciting when one knows that we are still growing older, still have the same bills, financial worries, relationship struggles, the ups and downs on this roller coaster of life. Despite this knowledge, each new year should usher in with it a sense of anticipation and search for new approaches, a desire to learn; perhaps from failings, or perhaps to seek out those challenges which will force learning upon us, and a yearning to grow yet another inch closer to God and our fellow man. I came across this instruction from a wise saint which spoke to me and provides me, quite simply, with on outline for my personal goals for this year:

"So now let us follow the Word; let us seek the repose on high; let us cast aside the opulence of this world; let us have recourse only to that portion of it that serves a good end; let us gain our lives by acts of charity; let us share what we have with the poor that we may be rich in the bounty of heaven." ~ St. Gregory Nazianzen

The Word of God. Living simply. Serving with charity. Helping the poor. These themes shall be the basis for my life this year, and hopefully those of my family. I feel that we have begun a significant transition to living more simply in the past year, and I look forward to continuing in that manner, as well as deepening our understanding of the peace and joy that is gleaned from such a lifestyle. Our Lord truly demonstrated that the simple life is the best way to encourage more focus on God and the needs of others. To live the Gospel is to live in love and in service. So here's to living more simply, more spiritually, more economically, more cleanly, more intentionally, more joyfully, more in love...building on last year's successes rather than harping on its shortcomings; to living the days out, in and through Him. All these desires must be wrapped in the blanket of faith and entrusted to God, for we can do nothing without Him. Being that 2013 has been declared the Year of Faith by Pope Benedict, I also hope to dwell more upon this virtue and keep it forefront in mind...Jesus said we could do immeasurable things with faith only the size of a mustard seed. Let us cast trepidation aside, let us throw our whole selves forward with faith; let us have faith that He will work with our weak, minuscule faiths, and accomplish great things for the Kingdom.

"Enter the new year with hope, knowing that you can do nothing of yourself. Walk in faith, and that faith will grow and grow! And you will begin to understand that He can do all things in you. So in total simplicity and child-likeness in a faith that sings of your desire for Him, in a love that celebrates with an untarnished hope, face this new year without fear! Why should you be afraid when the Lord is with you? We live in the resurrected Christ. Together upholding each other in love and joy and faith, we shall restore that which needs restoring in the church."
~ Catherine Doherty 

A happy new year blessed by our Lord to you all!

October '12 photo shoot by Chutikorn Photography

This time.

This is a time of continuous growth - 9 months!

It is a time to observe.

A time to learn new things...for all of us.

A time to hold tightly. 

A time of wonder.

A time to teach.

A time to love and smile.

It is a time of hopeful anticipation. Let us prepare, for behold, He comes!

This past Sunday marked Michael's 9th month mark. Our little baby is fast transitioning into a little boy. It amazes us at how fast he develops at this stage; his cognition and awareness of the things in his little life, of things like pushing and pulling chairs in the kitchen, swinging doors open and closed, an understanding of words like up and down, outside and home. "Mama" and "Papa" are words he has understood for some time and it makes our hearts swell to see his reaction to those words grow increasingly excited and affectionate. He knows that Papa comes home twice during the day and at the evening homecoming, it is not unusual for Michael to bestow Papa with 4 kisses in a row. He prefers to stay in whichever vicinity in the house one of us are located, and will sit and play or pull himself up on our chair for some chatting or smiles. Michael is also learning not to pull books off the shelf, not to pull on wired cords, and not to touch the wobbly leg of the piano. He is doing well on most accounts, but a corner from a book page did disappear into his mouth the other day...I say he is just trying to internalize what is to be gained by book reading, faster. ;) Michael loves being read to and turning the pages; his favorite books are the "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" books, "Trucks" by Byron Barton, and "Babies on the Go" - it is especially fun to see him recognize the pictures of his own kind in the last book. Michael loves children and babies, and tries to talk to, and reach out to them whenever he sees them. I love this, and hope that it reveals some of the loving, concerned characteristics of an older brother. Also especially timely, as I keep referring to Baby Jesus and show Michael His hiding place in the last pocket of the Jesse Tree. And Michael smiles. And I wonder what is being retained in that little head.

During this 2nd week of Advent, we are purposefully taking time for listening...for the arrival of God and to the needs of others. God gave His own Son to descend into the pit of humanity to serve and save; so must we for our neighbors in need. There are cookies to be baked for our parish's Advent mission, a dinner to make for Andrew's co-worker whose father just passed, a coffee-time treat for my RCIA candidate, something for the homeless person who always stands at our freeway exit, and little party to be planned for Andrew's catechist volunteers. We are having a very simple Christmas this year, and are finding that without the monetary preoccupations and distractions of too much gift buying, we are able to focus on simply being present for others; hopefully being that light of Christ that we are each called to be. The necessity for a simple Christmas for us is really making me dwell on the stark simplicity of the stable and the manger, the way our King entered the world. It is making me slow down and listen...for His arrival, to the needs of my family and others, and for this I am grateful. I have so so much for which to be grateful!

An excerpt from my Advent read, Donkey Bells by Catherine Doherty:

"I'm sure that, as a child, Christ rode on a donkey many times. And also as a man, of course. But 'officially' when the donkey carried Our Lady, who in turn carried God, from Nazareth to Bethlehem. The other time was when the donkey carried Christ into Jerusalem as the people laid palm branches before Him, proclaiming Him king. Let us think for a moment: what kind of animal is a donkey? It is a beast of burden, the animal of the poor. Once again, the immense theme of poverty is illustrated in an animal. God chose the humblest, the smallest in status, because among the animals the donkey is considered very low. So God is teaching us a lesson here - a lesson of humility, of poverty, and of simplicity...The breath of the donkey and the ox made the stable warm. So we meditate on several things at once: the poverty and humility of the donkey, which God chose and which should be our poverty and humility; and the breath of our love, which should warm God in our neighbor constantly."

I love how Catherine tells the story of how her mother would emphasize the necessity for goodness during Advent so as to be able to hear "the donkey's bells", carrying the Virgin and Child closer and closer. A perfect image to help remind us to keep our spiritual ears and hearts awake and attentive at this time, and eager for His beautiful arrival.

"Today it is very quiet. Are you listening? If you are listening, you can hear the faint sound of tinkling bells. He who is pure of heart an childlike shall hear the bells of the donkey ringing in his life."

Tuesday "Daybook"

The Simple Woman's Daybook is a lovely brief outline for blogging women/mothers to utilize for the purpose of composing their thoughts, keeping gratitude in their hearts, planning their week, etc.  It is traditionally published once a week on Tuesdays. I may not get to it every Tuesday, but I felt that it might be a nice, simple way to keep my readers semi-updated on what is going on in our life, in addition to reminding myself to focus on the simplistic beauty of the everyday moments.

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... Very hot and sunny. Crickets making a buzz. 

I am hearing... John Michael Poirier's CD, Be With Us Today

I am pondering... "I know you are afraid of where this road is leading.

I want to draw your heart deep into the desert,

where I will speak a word to restore your soul

and a promise of the coming day when I will dry your tears away."

Lord, I embrace the desert.

I am creating... I need to create my lesson plans for tomorrow's music classes;

boys, grades 5-12.

I am thankful for... The comforting and encouraging words of loving friends.

Especially thankful for a dear, thoughtful friend who hosted us for dinner, cake,

and a much needed evening of laughter last night for Andrew's birthday

when she heard I wasn't feeling well.

From the kitchen... A stack of dirty dishes, but at least the trash is out!

I am going... to have some cysts removed via a laparoscopy; asking for prayers.

I am reading... flipping through The Endometriosis Natural Treatment Program.
And In Their Own Words: Women Healed by Dr. Hilgers
of the Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of Human Reproduction. 

I am hoping... that with this procedure, I can finally get some answers on what has been the cause of all this on and off pain over the last couple years... 

Around the house... Messy. Music everywhere.

Juggling work and medical issues this week has been tough.

One of my favorite things... Seeing little Declan on Skype!

A few plans for the rest of the week: Make it through tomorrow's teaching. Pick up the house. Make dinner at least one night. Watch a few movies with hubby (including some Jane Austen!)

Here is picture thought I am sharing... Morning mist around our house at sunrise...so lovely.

Like a child...

I came across this beautiful article today, and it inspired me, especially after my first experience with classroom teaching last year, where I was reminded how precious a child's innocence is, and how much one can learn from children. It also rings true with the philosophy of St. Therese and her "Little Way" of approaching God, confirming Christ's statement that we must become like little children to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. We pride ourselves with age, status, wisdom, careers, ect., but all our Lord asks of us is to have the faith, trust and insight of a child.

"To Teach"
by Monsignor Robert Hugh Benson

From a 1992 edition of "The Catholic Hearth"

There is a tradition, probably untrustworthy, that in certain well‐known schools the new assistant master begins his career by teaching the older students advanced subjects, and ends it, if he is successful, by rising to the high levels of infants and alphabets. At any rate the tradition witnesses to a profound truth. It is comparatively easy to lecture to Plato on philosophy or to St. Thomas on theology; but it requires almost superhuman knowledge and effort and skill to discourse effectively to children on any subject whatever.

First, there is the imarity between the mind that receives and the truth that is to be received; next, there is the extremely coarse and unsubtle instrument known as human language by which the work must be done, and this is even further limited by the narrowed vocabulary to be employed in this instance; lastly, there is the handicap of the teacher’s own more mature experience. (It is as if a man were to set out to lecture to birds on Wagner, aided only by a tom‐tom for his musical illustration.)

But there is one subject, thank God! In which these difficulties are reduced to a minimum, and that is the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ which is eternal life. The difficulties, in fact, on this subject lie in quite another direction. It is comparatively easy for a child to become a “man of understanding”; it is the difficulty for the rest of us to be “converted and become as little children” in grace. The child, like the human race in its infancy, is not weighted and hampered by the obscurity which a little disproportioned knowledge cast; it has no temptation to think that since it understands about five things, it can therefore understand five thousand, or that “what it knows not is not knowledge.” This, surely, is one reason why our Blessed Lord sets a child in the midst as our model, and laments how hard it is for “those that have riches to enter into the kingdom of heaven.” If we have nothing we are not avaricious or complacent; if we are obedient we have gained the mastery of ourselves; if we are inexperienced we think nothing too good to be true. The child then begins in hope where the wise man leaves off in despair.

This “capacity for God,” then, this simplicity, this untarnished conscience, this instinctive knowledge of helplessness and ignorance, common to all true children – these things not to be improved upon by any teacher: he can only seek to safeguard them; and, meantime, he must rather study and learn from them himself. But God has, as a matter of fact, manifested Himself upon the field of history and linked together by both natural religion and revelation those things that are called phenomena. He has shown us, for instance, what we could never have guessed for ourselves, that Himself is really and truly as much the Father of our neighbor as of ourself, that He has made us of one blood with men of other nations than our own, and most marvelous of all, that our hunger for justice can only be satisfied by Himself, who is Justice. Certainly the Christian Religion meets our aspirations, but in every point it also transcends them; for the showing of this there was needed the Incarnate Life, the Cross, the Resurrection, the Catholic Church and the sacraments.

These things then are not within the natural knowledge even of children. These enormous events, prophets and kings still desire to see before they believe, can certainly be brought within the grasp of children’s faith, yet they must be brought before they can be grasped. The child who knows, as older folks do not know, the Light that enlightens every man, does not know, unless he is told that this Light was at last set in a lantern and shone among men, outwardly as well as inwardly, a light to their paths as well as a lamp to their feet.

And for this tremendous work – the teaching to children of the greatest things in this world and the next – there is needed in the teacher all that is meant by the words “an intelligent love of children." He must understand them or he cannot teach; and he must love them or he cannot persuade.

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"Without love, deeds, even the most brilliant, count as nothing."

"Our Lord needs from us neither great deeds, nor profound thoughts. Neither intelligence nor talents. He cherishes simplicity."

St. Therese of Lisieux