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.
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!)
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}
Christ is Risen!
Truly He is Risen!
On this Easter Monday I am…
Grateful For
::my faith
::Chris working so hard planting our small orchard (I really need to update our farm blog. I have decided to let the older children who have been so involved in the planning and planting to contribute over there as well.)
::sunshine
::a new sheet for our bed (I must have shrunk the old one because no matter which way I put it on the bed, by the next morning it was off at the corners. That one little thing would start my day off wrong.)
::giving Chris a haircut
::Leo walking around the yard
Listening To
Simple Gifts
Reading
40 Days to a Joy-Filled Life: Living the 48 Principle
(My soul sister and I are reading through this together)
Holiness for Housewives: And Other Working Women
(Our March book club read that we barely discussed)
Practice of the Presence of God, The
(Our April book club selection)
Cooking
Right now I have a Blueberry French Toast Casserole in the oven. Hopefully it’s good because we’re all waiting patiently for it.
I did not necessarily make a meal plan this week. I shopped for a few things like cheese, milk, frozen fruit…still spent too much money. We have lots of beans, flour and venison burger so my plan is to cook from that and hopefully save some money.
Praying For
Praying for my children…hard. We have an upcoming event which is already causing some of my children some fear and anxiety. Not to mention just how hard this world is on growing children. Satan is moving and working in every corner of the world, the church included or especially.
Working On
In addition to wrapping my children in prayer, I am making Granny Squares to wrap them in.
Pondering
I’m pondering the Scriptures. I hear people use the phrase, “There’s an app for that.” Well I don’t own anything that needs or has “app capability” but no matter the need, “There’s a Scripture for that.”
Wandering Around
Catholic Land Movement
Teaching Children to Pray Scripture
Found on My Camera
One of my children felt the need to capture a bit of real life.
Link up and share a bit of your life.
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?
Catholic Woman’s Almanac {CWA}
Welcome to Monday’s at Suscipio. Link up your own version of an online Daybook or journal or share in the comments. Take time to visit each other and offer encouragement to each other for the week. Let’s get started…
Thanking God for
::a warm fireplace to congregate with our God family
::Pioneer Woman’s Spicy Pulled Pork for a very satisfying lunch/dinner
::the dedication of a loving priest who has enthusiastically welcomed and abundantly provided and continues to provide for our parish family
::crochet lessons from my neighbor who is also my friend (Crochet “lessons” sounds way more formal than it actually is. Really we sit at our table and talk and crochet together.)
::Giving a ride home to 2 homeschool boys in our group and hearing the book suggestions fly back and forth across the rows of seats in the van.
::naps to catch up on sleep lost last week when everyone had colds
Reading
The Hermitage Within
(This book may take a while. I had not even made it past the first page and needed to make a call to my spiritual director.)
Holiness for Housewives: And Other Working Women
(I read this book about 10 years ago and have picked it back up for our Book Club.)
Honey for a Woman’s Heart: Growing Your World through Reading Great Books
The Holy Bible: Revised Standard Catholic
The Way of Trust and Love – A Retreat Guided by St. Therese of Lisieux
Pondering, Praying and Thinking Out-Loud
I am in need of a change. Change does not necessarily mean ditching what I’m doing now. In my case, that would be a bad thing. But I do need to make some changes…now.
I started Suscipio last year when I had a 13, 11, 9, 7, 5, 3 and baby tucked up tight in the womb. I now have an almost 15 year old, high school freshman down to a–now walking–one year old and everybody in between, plus a handsome husband and then there’s me. To say I am needed would be an understatement.
In addition to all that goodness of a growing family–this past year has also worn me down and beaten me up. Friends I thought were life long–kiss on each other’s grand babies life long–openly mocked and maligned me, lied to me and about me, sabotaged my children’s birthday party, publicly questioned our parenting and forced our hand to make decisions we never thought we would have to make.
I’m tired.
I am tired of my children finding me on the computer. This is not entirely Suscipio’s doing, but Suscipio does take some time. I am tired of telling my children, “Just a minute.” I am tired of Leo cruising around the dinning room chairs to get to me at the computer. Suscipio has begun to feel more like a burden more than a creative, communal outlet. And that’s not good.
But getting rid of Suscipio is not a valid answer. I spoke recently with my husband and my spiritual director extensively about Suscipio. These two men know my innermost self. And both of these men were very clear in the fact that Suscipio serves a good. This good is two-fold.
Suscipio has provided a place for Catholic women to come together and share their stories, their prayers and their heart. The body of Christ working together to encourage, teach and learn from each other is a good thing.
Suscipio has also provided me a creative outlet. Without a creative outlet, I become a burden to myself…you understand? I am daily encouraged by the comments you all leave for each other. I am in the front row for each story, pulling out the nuggets I can apply to my own life. And I’m always humbled by your generous prayers for each other. I honestly feel like there is no place else on the web like Suscipio.
So how to reconcile my need to continue Suscipio and my need to respond to the call of wife and mother in my own little Domestic Church?
Well, the first step is to grant myself grace. I say myself, because I know you all already do. Here’s how I need to grant myself some breathing room. If I don’t get a post up…that’s ok. If I get a post up late…that’s ok. If the Book Club post goes up on Thursday instead of Wednesday…that’s ok. If I am the only one talking about the book…that’s ok. If…If…If…that’s all ok. I can walk away from the computer mid-post and pick it back up an hour later, or a day later or two days later. I can post a picture on my personal blog without feeling guilty because I have not done anything on Suscipio for the day.
So you are maybe wondering why I had to make this big long post to say, “Things may look a little different around here, but Suscipio is still here.” I needed to say all this because Suscipio would not be here with out you all and I needed to let you all know what had been rolling around my head for the past couple of months.
Captured
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