A typical day. (For Elizabeth who likes to know what I do.)

"It is important to understand that the ordinariness of routine and daily life is the warp and the woof of living the Gospel without compromise...Every task, routine or not, is of redeeming, supernatural value because we are united with Christ. We must be recollected and stay aware of this truth."  Catherine Doherty

Daily Gospel.

Morning nurse and cuddle.

Makeup.

As seen from the kitchen sink.

Diapers drying......diapers folded.

Lots of standing.

Nap time projects.

Waking up!

Afternoon chores...organizing.

Making mayo.

Halfway done. 

Meltdown.

Ready for the oven.

Happy his daddy is home.

Bed.

"Good night! Good night!

Far flies the light;

But still God's love

Shall flame above,

Making all bright.

Good night! Good night!

Victor Hugo

(In fond remembrance of my sister Elizabeth's recitation of this poem at a home-school talent show at age 4 years.) I love you, Elizabeth!

A time for hope.

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:  

a time to be born, and a time to die;

a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

a time to kill, and a time to heal:

a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance;

a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 

a time to seek, and a time to lose; 

a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

a time to tear, and a time to sew; 

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

a time to love, and a time to hate;

a time for war, and a time for peace.

What gain has the worker from his toil?

"I have seen the business that God has given to the sons of men to be busy with. He has made everything beautiful in its time; also he has put eternity into man's mind, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end."

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11

What is God calling you to do in this season, today, now? To speak out, act, and rebuild? Or perhaps He is calling you to be quiet and still, steady on the course? No matter where you find yourself in this season, be assured that if you bind your hand to His, you may be hopeful in His unfolding of the future. For me, now, I find immense joy and hope in the smile of my child, my gift from God. I must remember that for now, I am his primary reflection of the world, and must transmit the love and peace of the Lord despite any doubts or fears that assail me. Michael is so confident in my love, so trusting in my abilities to care for him, so hopeful in my knowing his every need. Truly an example of how we must relate to our Father in heaven...like little children with simplistic trust. All things will be revealed in their entire complexity of purpose; if not soon, then at the end of time, and His name will be forever glorified for His great providence and mercy. 

I pray that each of you feel His peace in this season. God bless America.

Michael's adventures.

Here is what Michael has been perfecting this week...and not just his cute smile! Daddy snapped these while Mama was out this Sunday afternoon.

Look at me standing up! What's up there? 

Oh, a door knob. Let's see if I can escape.

Not quite tall enough...yet!

Maybe there is another outlet this way?

I lost my footing and fell. Bummer. 

 Oh well, what can I find over here?

 A box!

I prefer to call it "standing equipment."

It's taped shut. How boring. Off to the next thing.

Just another day on the job, Dad.

All Saints.

One of my favorite mini feasts of the year...when we remember the whole of our brothers and sisters who have gone before us, leaving us examples of holiness, virtue, long-suffering obedience to Christ. Growing up, I remember saints playing a huge part in my life. My parents were excellent about having us read about the lives of the saints (one per day, in fact) and we often celebrated many saint feasts throughout the year, culminating in a very special celebration for All Saints. The repetition of reading their stories truly brought the saints alive to me on a personal level. I learned to rely on the saints and remember their reactions to temptations, sin, and the devil, their charity towards others, their acknowledgement of failure, their fervor of love for our Lord and the Blessed Mother. The saints acted as little compasses for our lives as children, I believe, whether or not we realized it then, or always acted in accord with their examples. Such a beautiful heritage we have in the saints. The world needs more sanctity and more saints now, and it must begin with us and our children...

This year to mark the day with a little festivity, we invited a large family from our parish over for treats after the evening Mass. Hopefully next year, there will be a All Saints' Day party at church we can attend. I can't wait to dress Michael up as a little saint.

 Very simple All Saints' Day decoration=string, mini clothespins, and whatever holy cards I had around the house! I love having all these saints hanging in the kitchen; such a good reminder of the diverse walks of life from which greatness can spring.

 Goodies

I enjoy decorating sugar cookies for special occasions...once or twice a year.