Among the pumpkins.

Pictures of our Sunday afternoon outing to Bob's Corn Patch about 20 minutes NE of Seattle...

 Boarding the hay ride which took us out to the pumpkin fields. 

Michael enjoys watching children's antics, and there was plenty of that to be seen on the hay ride.

 Despite the bright orange colors...

 Michael was more interested in trying to eat the grass.

 We ended our outing with a delicious roasted corn snack.

 Handsome.

Chowing down.

What a lovely couple of hours spent as a family out in the country with perfect weather. There are many pumpkin patches around here, so we may have to check out a few more before the season is out. :)

Weekend 7's.

Weekend recap: Nice weekend; little busy, but fun.

1) This and this concerning loving our mama figures. Right. God knows how to place things in front of me at the right time according to my struggles. Mothers, if you have time to only read one, click on the first link. And you ladies who aren't mothers can also apply this to your situation if this is a personal struggle for you - know that you are beautiful and precious in His sight because He created you to be so! "Embrace your design."

2) Fall crafting continues!

3) Saturday night, we were invitees to a pro-life dinner at our church. It was nice to meet those who head the pro-life activities and connect with more parishioners. We plan to participate in some of the prayer vigils and fundraisers this year.

"For you formed my inward parts, you knitted me together in my mother's womb...Your eyes beheld my unformed substance, in Your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them." Psalm 139:13, 16

4) Little man has the top of a tooth poking through on the bottom! Explains his crying last night. Another bittersweet moment; I want him to be through with this painful period, and yet, want him to stop growing up so fast.

5) This Sunday marked the first Sunday for children's religious education at our parish. I have volunteered to be a part-time teacher, and have 2 students for 8th grade. Will enjoy the occasional teaching, and hope to impart a deeper love for our Lord and the faith, in addition to increasing my own knowledge and devotion.

6) The beautiful weather this weekend compelled us to hit up a local pumpkin patch. (More pictures will be in the following post.)

7) Just thankful. Thankful for a hard-working hubby who strives each day to be a better man for the Lord and for his family. Thankful for a little baby who loves me unconditionally and always has a smile for mama despite his teething. Thankful for a dear mother who always has time to talk to me (usually every day), is always interested in what is going on, is always excited to Skype with me and baby, and who has been sacrificing much of her time on a project for Michael (can't wait to share it!) Thankful for a great parish community and the prospects of many good friends. Thankful for all this sunny, gorgeous weather we have been having! Even thankful for disappointments and hurts that I can offer back, as a path to forgiveness and love.

"I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the angels I sing your praise...On the day I called, you answered me, my strength of soul you increased...The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your mercy, O Lord, endures for ever. Do not forsake the work of you hands." Psalm 138:1, 3, 8

Thrifty and easy fall decor ideas.

I'm currently in the process of finding time to making a little fall decor for our home. I had a few ideas in mind, and so surfed for instructions/pics and came across some other cute and thrifty fall decor projects that I - 1) some I want to save for future reference and 2) thought I'd share with you! Of course the cheapest fall decorations are found outdoors if you live in a wooded area. Bring in any treasures that catch your fancy including acorns, nuts, berries, branches, feathers, and place in vases, baskets, candle holders, or add to your pumpkin and gourd displays. But if you are feeling a creative, crafting vibe, consider some of these...

A festive easy centerpiece

Easy yarn pumpkins to use however you wish!

Love these acorns.

Fall-colored fabric scraps could be mingled with acorns or pine cones for this wreath.

No sew/no glue fabric pumpkin - great way to re-purpose fabric and notion bits!  

Cinnamon stick candle holder - I would adorn with acorns, berries, raffia, and fall ribbon! Use any old votive holders you have around the house or canning jars.

Indian corn centerpiece 

Leaf stamped bunting

This apple banner is darling!

Super easy (and cheap) centerpiece idea using whatever you have around the house!

This canning jar band pumpkin takes the cake for creativity! I love it; will have to keep my eye out for the lids. Mom, you should make some!

                      

And don't forget to add some fall cheer to your front porch; make it easy with pumpkins, gourds, and mums, and perhaps throw in a harvest/thanksgiving themed message written on a small chalkboard or even hand-painted on a pumpkin.

There is a ton of ideas out there; some go over the top. Simplicity is key for me and our simple lifestyle. Now I suppose I should get to work finishing my little projects...to be shared later. :) Happy creating!

Falling into fall.

(Michael is napping; let's see if I can finish this post before his incoming teeth wake him...poor boy.)

 This week has sure been the week of blog posts from yours truly, hasn't it? :) Well, I spent a good deal of time organizing the house last week, and so this week, I have extra time for reading, praying, creating, and blogging. There are orange and yellow leaves on our lawn for the first time in 5 years! Hooray! So excited to finally have the real seasons back. Michael has enjoyed playing with the leaves and watching them fall from the trees; looking forward to getting some pictures of him with leaves/pumpkins as soon as he is back to 100% health. We also have a resident squirrel ("Jack") who has been most busy scurrying around foraging for the winter. I wonder how many trees will sprout up in our lawn in the spring from his forgotten stashes... It's been quite chilly lately; the air has that lovely crisp bite of early fall in it. We have had some spectacular moonlit nights - no harvest moons yet - but on most nights, a low-hanging, glowing orb which casts a smokey light over our wooded neighborhood here. Some of you are aware of my love of poetry; I especially enjoy reading poems that emphasize the images of the four seasons, as for me, the words and rhymes really accentuate what we experience outdoors with our senses during those times. I happened upon this nice verse earlier this week:

Late Autumn by William Allingham

October - and the skies are cool and gray
O'er stubbles emptied of their latest sheaf,
Bare meadow, and the slowly falling leaf.
The dignity of woods in rich decay
Accords full well with this majestic grief
That clothes our solemn purple hills to-day.

And night sends up her pale cold moon, and spills 
White mist around the hollows of the hills,
Phantoms of firth or lake; the peasant sees
His cot and stockyard, with the homestead trees,
Islanded; but no foolish terror thrills
His perfect harvesting; he sleeps at ease.

Ah, the scene of a successful fall harvest. As I mentioned in previous post, I personally mark autumn as a time to commence change in our hearts in anticipation of the Child whose Advent we await. How can we "harvest" our hearts in preparation? What needs to be thrown out with the chaff and what goodness and charity can we reap to offer Him?

Of course, fall is also the season that simply evokes outdoor fun and yummy treats. :) I came across these cute fall "bucket lists" with ideas to celebrate this changing season...

These inspired me to create one for our family this fall. Even though Michael isn't old enough to appreciate the hoopla, Andrew and I want to enjoy lots of autumnal fun, especially since this is our first real fall in a while! I will share our list in a later post, but in the meantime, here are some ideas that came to my mind that you may want to add to your own fall bucket list. It's great fun to be flexible according to the ages/abilities of your family members and also incorporate works of mercy!

-In addition to having fun, this season is about reflecting on our many blessings and giving thanks. If outdoor activities aren't your style, make a gratitude list such as this one or a gratitude collage to nurture a spirit of thankfulness. 

-In the same spirit, share your blessings, and make some fall treats and drop them off to a struggling family or homeless person.

-Bake your spouse a fall treat, package with a little list of gratitude for his hard work, and deliver to his work place.

-Purchase canned holiday fixin's for the food bank at your church.

-Host an All Saints' Day party or All Hallow's Eve party.

-Have the girlfriends over for card games and homemade pumpkin spice lattes. 

-Have a family over for hot apple cider and s'mores over a bonfire.

-Go apple picking and make a big batch of applesauce. 

-Illustrate some fall poetry.

-Offer to help a disabled or elderly neighbor rake his/her leaves.

-Make a corn husk doll or gourd rattle for your baby. Old-fashioned, I know, but the challenge might be fun...

-Bring some little authentic fall into your house and make a nature display. Or, do a leaf study and/or leaf display.

-Make popcorn balls!

-Finally, find creative ways to display your fall bucket list in a prominent area in your home: perhaps framed on a living room table or mantle; written out on leaf-shaped craft paper then hung on a garland or from branches in a vase; drawn in watercolors; formed into a collage; or simply written on slips of paper gathered in a bowl - pull a few out every weekend for some spontaneous fun.

What are your favorite fall traditions? Here's to fun, colorful, tasty, family time this fall 2012! Go out and enjoy it and each other; time is precious.

~Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgiving, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings~ William Arthur Ward

Angels around us.

"For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone."
Psalm 91:11-12

Today is another special feast today - that of our guardian angels! I don't think I could sum up the beautiful importance of this feast day in the lives of our families better than Maria Augusta Trapp in her book, Around the Year with the Trapp Family - yes, the real words of Maria from "The Sound of Music."

"Long before our little children learn to know Peter Rabbit, Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse, and Winnie the Pooh, they must be made familiar with their most faithful companion-their best friend, their guardian angel. The beauty of telling stores to little ones lies in their ready acceptance. They believe that their guardian angel is around all the time, day and night, and they will talk to him, greeting him in the morning, discussing things with him during the day, thanking him in the evening. When children grow up with a strong sense of a spiritual power at their service instituted by God for the very special and sole purpose of being their very own helper and protector, such children need never be afraid, need never suffer from the modern ailment of insecurity. It is up to us mothers to bring about this early and very personal friendship with their guardian angel. The feast of the Holy Guardian Angel on October 2nd should be a big event in our nurseries."

I have seen this very kind of relationship in action with some children. They make remarks such as, "I asked my guardian angel to signal to my brother's angel to wake him up when I saw him sleeping in church," or "I asked, 'Please guardian angel, help me remember the answer to that problem'...and then I did!" It is striking to hear youngsters talk with such confidence about a being they have never experienced with any of their 5 senses, and to see a complete trust in their angel's concern for their welfare, especially understanding guardian angels' importance for the protection of the soul. 

Maria Trapp continues, describing the need for children to understand the stories of the good angels as described throughout the Bible; their purpose and their desire to help us gain Heaven. Just as important, is the understanding of evil, and how the bad "angels" influence sin.

"And as we tell the children about the good angels, we shall also have to mention the bad ones who turned into devils. If the highest of them, Satan himself, dared to tempt Our Lord, who are we to think that it "can't happen to us" or that such stories belong to the Middle Ages and do not apply to modern times? What St. Peter says to all of us we must tell to the little ones as well: "Watch and pray, for the devil goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour." 

I am relishing re-discovering this book and Maria's beautiful spirituality. She has so much wisdom to impart, and a close-knit, God-fearing, virtue-seeking family as proof of her careful, holy mothering; I hope to share more of her thoughts throughout the year.

Holy Guardian Angels, protect us from the evil one. Help us to raise our children to burn with a desire to love the Lord, and to be able to recognize and shun the evil one.

Happy Autumn!

So, here we are in October already - wow. I know according to the calendar, it has been fall season for about 2 weeks now. But the 1st of October has always been the "first day of fall" in my book. Not only is fall a beautiful season of change marked by pumpkins, colored leaves, spices, chilly mornings/nights, and bonfires, but liturgically, the autumn months mark a shift towards Advent and the coming of the Christ Child (my favorite time of year!) And what better way to prepare for Advent then by following the progression of saints' feasts in the hopes of learning from and imitating their examples in order to prepare our hearts for Christ's arrival. Of course, every month and day of the year celebrate the saints, but these months leading up to Christmas honor some of the most dear. I am going to attempt to highlight them here, mostly for my sake, as I want to add more to our liturgical awareness and celebrations this year; hopefully you readers can draw something from the brief mentions too. :)

Today is the feast of St. Therese of the Child Jesus. One of our favorite saints because she promoted and exemplified childlike simplicity and trust as a way to Jesus and heaven.

A cloistered Carmelite nun, Therese practiced a "little way" of gaining sanctity, and expressed that one should do everything wholeheartedly for the love of Christ, even the simplest or most menial of tasks; "Pick up a pin for the love of God and consider the day well spent." She professed that without our Lord, she amounted to nothing and relied completely on Him to carry her through life.

"It is just the same in the world of souls — which is the garden of Jesus. He has created the great saints who are like the lilies and the roses, but He has also created much lesser saints and they must be content to be the daisies or the violets which rejoice His eyes whenever He glances down. Perfection consists in doing His will, in being that which He wants us to be."

This beautiful saint was consumed with the business of loving God simply because He is so worthy of our love and adoration, and because she so desired for others to love Him and know His love. She offered herself to this purpose. St. Therese experienced many temptations and spiritual droughts, but let nothing separate her from the Beloved, knowing that He was using her to save souls. St. Therese died at age 24, after doing much good here on earth, and we know from her writings that it was her desire to continue to do so from Heaven!

St. Therese, pray for us, that we may deepen our desire for Jesus and Heaven.

"For me, prayer is an upward leap of the heart, an untroubled glance towards heaven, a cry of gratitude and love which I utter from the depths of sorrow as well as from the heights of joy. It has a supernatural grandeur which expands the soul and unites it with God. I say an Our Father or a Hail Mary when I feel so spiritually barren that I cannot summon up a single worth while thought. These two prayers fill me with rapture and feed and satisfy my soul."

Dealing with joy.

It's been a week of colds and teething. As the weather chills, so have our immune systems. We have been pretty good with our vitamins and herbal teas, but are lacking in the department of sleep. Andrew's schedule has been incredibly busy and Michael is still working on some teeth; hence, not much rest for us parents which has greatly hindered our ability to get better. Andrew has lost his voice several times this week, making an already packed week of meetings and teaching, extra challenging for him.  At least I don't have a full blown cold (yet); have been teetering on the fence line for a few days and am feeling the worst today. This weekend has been the worst for Michael so far; I have never seen him this fussy and distraught. Poor little guy keeps rubbing his ears and his mouth, expressing his discomfort with faces, and being extremely needy. And he has a cough to boot. I've been keeping him warmly dressed and inside for the most part - hopefully he will kick that cough this week. Needless to say, it has been a tiring and draining week for me. Providence brought this to my attention and I had to smile at Cardinal Dolan's cheerful frankness:

"Lord knows there are plenty of Good Fridays in our lives...but, they will not prevail. Easter will. As we Irish claim, 'Life is all about loving, living, and laughing, not about hating, dying, and moaning.' That's why a crabby, griping, whining believer is an oxymoron! That's why we say, 'Joy is the infallible sign of God's presence.' "

Lord also knows I've had a few Good Fridays in my day. And I've learned to deal. But God asks us to do more then deal. In addition to trusting Him to carry us through the tough times, He asks us to forge them joyfully. Joy. Such a tiny word, but packed with purpose and meaning. I've always been very good with dutifully and punctually carrying out my obligations and fulfilling my commitments, but I've never been good with the "rejoice always" part. In fact, I fail in that area way too often. This is why I chose the title "Joy of Being" for my blog; to constantly remind me that not only have I much to be joyful about as a daughter of God, but that only in Him, do I find complete joy of being and that only through Him, will I be able to impart that joy of being to family, friends and strangers. Sure, it's a breeze to smile when the going is easy and smooth. However, being human, it's more likely that some insecurity, frustration or weakness of temperament will haste to turn that smile into a frown. What does Scripture say?

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice!" Philippians 4:4

"...we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produce hope, and hope does not disappoint us..." Romans 5:3-5

"Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer."
Romans 12:12

"Count it all joy, my brethren when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." James 1:2-3

And so, if we strive to remain daily in His presence and invite Him into our various trials, will not the "task" of remaining joyful no longer be a "task" but a automatic response to the consolation found in Him? In other words, a gift from the Lord?

"You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound." Psalm 4:7

"Splendor and majesty go before him; praise and joy are in his holy place."  
1 Chronicles 16:27

"Then all who take refuge in you will be glad and forever shout for joy. Protect them that you may be the joy for those who love your name." Psalm 5:12

"My soul is feasted as with marrow and fat, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips, when I think of you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy." Psalm 63:5-7

Such wealth of comfort found in His Word, these quotes being only a mere fraction! Through our faith and trust in Him, the Lord grants us joy. Joy begets peace. Joy begets hope. Joy begets stronger love. Aren't those the principles I want our life and house to revolve around? There's a saying somewhere that the mother is the heart of the household. Also, that a mother's heart in the classroom of her child. It's true. I've got a little man around who grows ever-aware of my state of being and reactions to life's curve balls and who will soon be following my lead, not to mention a husband who in his own human imperfection, is likely to react according to my reactions...ample reasons to check/change my habits, no? Resolve: to bless my family by being more joyful in all circumstances, and by so doing, to bring God's presence more keenly into their midst.

"Joy is the serious business of Heaven." ~ C. S. Lewis

Yes, sir. The best of reasons to practice now.

"And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness and sorrow and sighing shall flee away."
Isaiah 51:11