Catholic Woman’s Almanac {CWA}
At 8:50 am on Monday morning…
I am thankful for
::being married to an awesome father (I knew he’d be an awesome daddy when I married him.)
::grilled burgers and dogs
::strawberry shortcake cake
::confession
::reading the Word
::visiting with librarians we’ve known for 15 years
::a laundry basket full of books (what? you don’t keep yours in a laundry basket?)
::Panera iced green tea (I lost my taste for cherry limeades after my pregnancy with Leo. Panera’s iced green tea happily fills that void. I keep looking for a copy cat recipe online and cannot find one yet.)
Wearing
I am still in my pajamas, pink cotton pj pants and a pink tee. My hair is where it always is, a twisted poney-tail bun high on my head.
Listening to
Maximilian is watching PBS kids and I’m “previewing all songs” from Daniel Renstrom
Reading
::my bible
::Abundant Simplicity: Discovering the Unhurried Rhythms of Grace
::Under the Torrent of His Love: Therese of Lisieux, a Spiritual Genius
From the Kitchen
Oh my goodness ya’ll. I am going to have to keep it super simple in the kitchen. First, I am in a major rut. Second, groceries are so expensive. I am not complaining because we have it so good just by the fact that we have a job to be able to go to the grocery store and purchase more than we need. But I am tired of the cost of food rising and the quality not. So I think we’re going to rotate the basics: beans, spaghetti, pasta soup and the like. Thankfully Chris and the kids hunt so we have venison and we have 7 chickens laying eggs, so that helps.
Outside my Window
The computer desk in in the dinning room next to a set of bay windows. It rained real early this morning so everything is a damp green. The sky is soft, “pastely” watercolor blue. There is a blue ladder next to the huge Fruitless Mulberry so the kids can swing Tarzan style from a low branch.
Praying
I have been praying the Scriptures. I am a visual, hands on, tell me exactly kind of person, so I’ll give you a couple of examples. The first one, I was reading Psalm 19 and Proverbs 19…
Lord, I pray my children desire You and Your Word over earthly treasures. Make them to know–help me to teach them–Your laws are sweeter than honey. †Psalm 19:10 Bless my children with a great reward because they keep Your ordinances. †Psalm 19:11 I pray the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart are pleasing to You. †Psalm 19:14 I pray the words of Chris’ mouth and the meditations of his heart are pleasing to You. †Psalm 19:14 I pray the words of my children and the meditations of their hearts are pleasing to You. †Psalm 19:14 Teach us Lord how to make intentional decisions so we don’t lose our way. Bless us with Your knowledge. †Proverbs 19:2 I pray we are filled with good sense so we can be slow to anger and able to overlook offenses. †Proverbs 19:11 Lord, fill us with the virtue of prudence. †Proverbs 19:14 Lord, my children are receptive to advice and accept instruction so that they may gain wisdom for their future. †Proverbs 19:20
The second example is a prayer that just bubbled forth from my heart and because I’ve been reading the scriptures, I was able to put some of God’s own Word in my prayer. After I had written the prayer, I skimmed my Bible to fill in the verse information…
June 10, 2013
Lord, thank you for this pocket of time this afternoon to spend with You. I have so many plans and ideas filling my mind right now. My deepest desire is to love and serve You. The longings of my heart are to raise up saints for heaven. I want to keep a neat and tidy home. I want to overflow with joy and patience. I want a smile and a soft word to be on my lips at all times. But my sin, sloth and selfishness get in the way. Lord, teach me to delight in doing Your will. †Psalm 40:8 But please Lord, let it be a gentle lesson. Give me an unquenchable desire to inscribe Your laws on my heart so I will not sin against You. †Psalm 119:11 I want to give myself liberally. I pray Lord my children are a blessing. †Psalm 37:26 Lord, help me to strive for a peace that not only invades me, but my entire home. I pray our family pursues Your peace with all our heart. †Psalm 34:14 Show me how to be a blessing to Chris and my children. †Psalm 119:74 I pray our family is ever faithful, never straying from You and Holy Mother Church, Your saints and angels and Blessed Mother Mary.
You can see it’s all over the place. But God can keep up I’m sure.
Pondering
I have been pondering friendship. These ponderings are the basis for an upcoming Letter of Encouragement.
Wandering Around the Web
Scout Pocket Rocket Tote, Piccadilly Circus
Did You Enjoy Your Big Mac Today?
Captured
Leo eating a sugar snap pea from the garden. He loves them!
Link up ladies or share in the comments. Give us a peek into your day to blessed day.
Five Lessons From the Carmelite Saints–eBook
I was excited to read a free ebook written by Connie of Contemplative Homeschool. She has contributed some wonderful posts here at Suscipio and I find her personal blog to be informative and encouraging, rooted solidly in the Catholic faith. Connie has written whats she calls her “first” ebook which gives me hope there will be more.
Connie’s ebook, Five Lessons From the Carmelite Saints is a short, quick read. Do not let that mislead you into thinking these lessons are of little importance. I liken this ebook to the Sign of the Cross; it may be short and simple, but if we truly knew it’s value, we could spend the rest of our lives contemplating the mystery. The same is true for this ebook. There is so much material for spiritual growth contained in Five Lessons From the Carmelite Saints.
Each lesson begins with a quote from a Carmelite saint, then a short teaching on the lesson. The lesson is completed by a “What to do” section. The very first lesson…You were made for union with God. See, I told you, simple lesson right, but we could meditate on that one assurance alone until the day Christ comes. Yes, I meant to say assurance. Connie’s ebook may be encouraging more of me than I am already giving God, but only because He has made me for so much more and she uses quotes and scripture to prove it.
I encourage you to print off a copy for yourself…it’s free! And then keep it where you spend your quiet time.
Five Lessons From the Carmelite Saints.
Catholic Woman’s Almanac {CWA}
Thankful
::three of my children being confirmed on Sunday
::enough cake and punch for the reception
::the smell of sweet chrism on their forehead
::the amazing job the schola/choir did singing the High Mass
::Eucharistic procession around a city block after the mass
Pondering
There are some people who always seem angry and continuously look for conflict. Walk away; the battle they are fighting isn’t with you, it is with themselves.
–unknown
Negative people need drama like oxygen. Stay positive, it’ll take their breath away.
–unknown
Reading
My Bible
A Beginner’s Introduction to the Philokalia
Homing
I spent today washing white table cloths from the Confirmation reception. Thankfully we used the White Punch recipe! My refrigerator is finally working, it’s been out since Thursday. So I ran to the grocery store tonight to restock what had to be trashed. I let Bridgie pick out a flavored ice cream and cones for a treat tonight…yum.
Cooking
My three oldest girls are at a Catholic girls camp this week. I’ve lost the bulk of my kitchen help! We are keeping it simple.
Enjoying
It’s funny how the family dynamic changes when a child, or two or three are missing. I’m enjoying watching the new dynamic.
Listening
Praise Baby Collection
Wandering
Jennifer Barrick Story Part 1 & Part 2
Captured
Catholic Woman’s Almanac {CWA}
Good Morning lovely Suscipio ladies!
How was your weekend?
Let’s get the week off to a great start! How about a almanac/daybook/online journal to get things going. Link up here or post in the comments.
Tell us what you’re thankful for…a gratitude list.
What are you reading and thinking?
Who or what are you praying for?
What’s cookin’ and are you making anything…plans/crafts, etc.
Do you have a garden and if so, how does your garden grow?
Let me take this time to welcome back Catholic Child Catalog. As they would say on Hee Haw…HOWDEEE! (I know, why was I allowed to watch a goofy show with soo much cleavage showing?)
Catholic Child Catalog has been partnering with Suscipio since almost the very beginning. When you click over there, and purchase yourself “a little sumpin sumpin” as we say around our home, let them know how much you appreciate their support of Suscipio.
Look, they have personalized holy cards. These are a great sacrament reminders. They can be framed, tucked in a missal or family bible. My children like to hand them out to their friends and family. Oh!! They have a Four Way Medal! This is what we are getting our son for his Confirmation gift (be watching for my order Leane)…ssshhhh! Our daughters will each receive a Miraculous Medal necklace, they have two choices. (Look at that, I did my Confirmation shopping while posting!)
Moments of Grace
I feel like maybe I’ve fallen off the face of the world. I’m positive my friends feel the same. The deal is, my world has suddenly had to get very small. And that’s ok right now.
I am almost finished with 9th grade and let me tell you, the first time around it was not this hard helping Berndette finish her 9th grade year. Helping my other children finish up 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th grade. Leo has decided he’s only happy when he’s outside. I’m crocheting a blanket for Chris. (My first blanket and it needs to cover a six foot tall man.) I am working to help prepare three of my children to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Soccer season for six children is wrapping up. First Communion is Sunday. Maximilian turns five the end of the month and is needing some extra attention and Lucy the dog is chewing up everything…including library books, the outside of the house, anything she can sneak in the garage to quickly grab, gardening twine for the vegetables to vine up, the garden…We got the bill in from when I had to rush Maximilian into the ER for a breathing treatment when he was struggling with croup. Bernadette got a summer job as a nanny and my three oldest leave for a one week summer camp (we have never gone to camp…or anywhere apart from each other for so long all at once) in one month. Veronica and our friend-neighbor are sewing Bridget’s First Communion dress and then Anna’s Confirmation dress. I need to buy Luke a suit for Confirmation.
There are times I don’t know which way to turn right now. But there’s grace in all these moments of mayhem. And part of the grace is being able to find it, you know. There are a couple of things that are trying to keep me grace-full: daily reading of the Scriptures, intense prayer, and reading 40 Days to a Joy-Filled Life: Living the 48 Principle
A moment of grace is how you decide to view your present circumstances.
I am trying choosing to see the grace in that ridiculuosly comical list above. I am trying choosing to find grace in God’s will, Chris’ will, seven other people’s will. Because if I focused on my will right now, I’d be a walking-talking-whining-complaining-frustrated-unhappy chocolate mess. And that’s not grace-full.
Share your Moments of Grace ladies. I’d love to see how you see God working in your life.
Catholic Woman’s Almanac {CWA}
Thanking God for
::longer evenings
::all of us outside doing one thing or another
::getting the first shower
::comfy chair in my bedroom
::Veronica making pans of cinnamon rolls to be sold at a fundraiser
::a couple pans of cinnamon rolls left for us
::The farm all nice and green after the rains
Listening to
Veronica is loading the dishwasher and the last load of laundry is dancing around in the dryer.
Reading
A Plan for Joy in the Home.
Laura! I can’t believe you never let me know what a wonderful resource you wrote.
40 Days to a Joy-Filled Life: Living the 48 Principle
The Guardian Angels Our Heavenly Companions
Wow! I have been so neglectful of my precious Guardian Angel.
Don’t Panic – Dinner’s in the Freezer: Great-Tasting Meals You Can Make Ahead
Pondering
I am still struggling with how busy and chaotic everything feels and seems to be. So I spend my time pondering “how” and “when.” The Lord is gently talking me through this season. My spiritual director is keeping me on the light side. My older girls are offering valuable insight.
From the Kitchen
Oh my gracious girls! Is it just me or does it seem like meals, and the prep for meals and the cleanup from meals and the planning of meals and the shopping for meals is continuous? This is one of those areas that just feels so big and demanding right now.
From the Garden
I picked the first radish from our garden gutter bed. I don’t know that we really like radishes, but we had some seeds so I planted them. I picked the first one tonight, sliced it up and added a touch of salt and then walked around the yard giving everyone their tiny slice. I think we all liked it.
Brothers
Praying
::I’m seeking God’s amazing grace and counsel right now.
::I’m praying for my Bridget who will receive her First Holy Communion in a week.
::I’m praying for my Anna, Luke and Bridget who will be interviewed in a couple of weeks to see if they are ready for the sacrament of Confirmation.
::I’m praying for a precious friend who seems to be struggling right now.
::I’m praying for my other girlfriends, because it always seems like it’s something doesn’t it?
Wandering Around the Web
Large Family Mothering
Colorful Crochet Socks
Why Can’t I Skip My 20 Minutes of Reading Tonight?
Crocheting
I am still working on some large Granny Squares to make Chris a blanket for his birthday. I am also still working on one large Granny Square. I am wanting to start working on another project but am holding myself accountable to the already started projects.
I love library day
Looking Ahead
Dentist cleaning for all of us which means we spend an entire morning in the office, soccer practice, dog training class, Bridget will make her First Holy Communion this coming Sunday.
Captured
My Man
Catholic Woman’s Almanac {CWA}
Laaaate Sunday night, I am…
Thanking God For
::the sound of Chris and Leo breathing slow and melodic as they sleep
::the windchimes on the front porch providing the soundtrack for this post
::our dog obedience trainer at Pet Smart (Lucy is 1000% improved according to our trainer after just one class. Yes, she was that naughty at our first class that she is now 1000% better. But better does not mean she can be trusted to be out of her kennel when the chickens are out. She stays out until about 4pm and then we kennel her and let the chickens out until about 7pm and then they get locked up and she can once again roam around.)
::going to an Apologetics Seminar with my daughters
::Maximilian in the “Children’s Choir”
::Veronica planning to make Bridget’s First Holy Communion/Confirmation dress and Anna’s Confirmation dress with help from our neighbor
Planning
I have tried emeals and I like the concept, alot, but our one problem was that constant variety. I know that sounds strange doesn’t it? I recently signed back up to use their slow cooker menu plus their breakfast and lunch menu. Then I found Plan to Eat. I’m already committed to emeals for 3 months but I can already see where Plant to Eat is going to be a better fit for our family.
In the Garden
This weekend we planted a bed of tomatoes, a bed of peppers, a Lavender bush which has mysteriously disappeared from the ground overnight, zucchini and pumpkins, beets, radishes, corn and peas. Our little orchard is looking good. I also planted two sweet potato vines in our Mary Garden and Sunflowers on the back side of the house.
Reading
40 Days to a Joy-Filled Life: Living the 4:8 Principle
The 4:8 Principle: The Secret to a Joy-Filled Life
Praying the Scriptures for Your Teenagers: Discover How to Pray God’s Will for Their Lives
The Hermitage Within (Cistercian Studies Series)
Learning Lessons In
I am learning some lessons in bending so as not to break.
Making
I am crocheting one big ‘ol Granny Square in various colors in the hopes of presenting it to Chris on his birthday in July. I am also making myself pick up my camera when I don’t feel like it and when I don’t think I have the time. You know how “they” tell you to drink lots of water. And if you wait to get a drink when you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated? Well, that goes for me and my camera. If I wait “until” to pick it up, my soul will already be dehydrated. Come to think of it, the same can be said about reading the Scriptures too.
Wandering Around the Web
10 Quotes That Will Change the Way You Attend Holy Mass
Saint Theophan the Recluse on Prayer
Quotable Guide to Attending Holy Mass
Captured
She’s been making flower crowns for the younger ones.
Catholic Woman’s Almanac {CWA}
“I think joy and sweetness and affection are a spiritual path. We’re here to know God, to love and serve God, and to be blown away by the beauty and miracle of nature.”
~Anne Lamott
Good evening my sisters! This Monday in Passion Week, I am…
Thanking God For
::a peace filled and joyous parish home
::a wonderful St Patrick’s Party
::crocheting (I really am enjoying my new found hobby. I take my little crochet basket with me everywhere just in case I have time to crochet.)
::nursing a grumpy baby to sleep
In the Garden
We have the beginnings of a small orchard! Saturday Chris planted 2 plums trees. We ordered 2 apple, 2 cherry, 2 pear, 1 nectarine, and 1 fig tree. They should ship later this week so we will spend the weekend planting those. In the garden we have planted lettuce, onions, garlic, carrots, strawberries, peas, cilantro, and radishes. We also planted 3 Blackberry bushes. In the kitchen window sill we have 11 little tomato plants starting to sprout!
Pray for me my friends. I need my enthusiasm and diligence to continue. I typically start strong, begin to putter out and quit all together once the temperatures get unbearably hot. I really want this garden and orchard venture to be a success.
Praying For
I am praying for my children. This world is tough…friendships are tough.
Enjoying
After the house has quieted down (finally!!) I stay up late and crochet and listen to audiosancto sermons on the computer. This one, The Critical Need for Virtuous Fathers, is so good. But look, if you’re going to listen to this sermon so you can point out all your husbands faults, flaws and sins…skip the audiosancto sermon. It is not meant to turn you into your husbands Holy Spirit. If you want to listen to it and then go give your man a great big smooch and tell him what a wonderful husband and father he is…listen away.
Reading
The Hermitage Within
Praying the Scriptures for Your Teenagers
The Catholic Holy Bible: Revised Standard Version
Holiness for Housewives: And Other Working Women
From the Kitchen
Pancakes & Brown Sugar Glazed Bacon
Refried Beans, chips & cheese
Hamburgers w/ chips & maybe potato salad
Chris said he’s on to me now. If we are having breakfast for dinner, it usually means
A) my original plan fell through
B) there was no original plan
Pondering
Our new Holy Father. Just hours into his Papacy, people were critical, digging up “dirt” and already assuming to know him as our Holy Father. There are any number of people, who when they find out I’m a mother, could very easily say some negative things about me as a mother based on how I behaved around children before I received the supernatural grace to actually be a mother. Are you following me here? We don’t know what Pope Francis will be like as a Pope because he’s never been a Pope. He’s never had the supernatural graces necessary to shepherd the Church. Whatever I did as a single, vain, self centered, ignorant woman…Thanks be to God…do not reflect my life as a mother. So if someone tells you they’ve “heard/read/saw some things…” ask if it was Pope Francis or Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio?
“We too, I think, are this people who, on one hand want to listen to Jesus, but on the other, sometimes we like to beat up on others, condemn the others…The message of Jesus is mercy, for me, and I say this with humility, mercy is the strongest message of the Lord.”
Pope Francis
My family and I are just coming out on the other side of being in a place of first, having the righteous attitude meant to condemn others and secondly, having that condemnation turned on us and against us full force. My Heavenly Father has been gently showing me how that kind of negative, pessimistic and superior attitude will only hinder people from coming to Him…it will also drive my children (His children) away from Him and His Church.
Captured
Leo receiving his blessing from Pope Francis
Link up ladies or join in the comments; what do things look like on your side of the fence?
Stop By and Thank Our Sponsors
Community Button
by Fr Jacques Philippe.
