Story of St. Wenceslaus

Go here to read about good King Wenceslaus. This is one of my favorite Christmas carols. Enjoy the carol here. Wow! I just found a picture book jackpot. Go here for a blog post chock full of books and info on this inspiring saint. Yesterday, the 1st Day of Christmas: While it was a good thing to get up to Kentucky from last Saturday to Tuesday, we were all a bit sluggish yesterday. The 10:30 Christmas Day Mass was so quiet and lovely. We went for a little drive, ate a late lunch at one of the few places open in the metro area, had some hot cider and visited with friends and came home to settle in to watch movies and eat frozen lasagna from COSTCO, which I did heat in the oven! Oops; rewind to Christmas morn -- we always make a home movie of the children coming down the stairs to see what ole St. Nick brought (his presents are unwrapped or in the stockings) and then they tore into a few wrapped gifts, most of which the girls bought for their little brother. The tree is beautifully lit as I write this on a cloudy, and not so cold -- around 53 degrees -- morning. I love winter and have loved it all my life. The short days take the pressure off my extroverted temperament. I get outside, but the quiet and low light soothes my easily agitated self. Growing up in Kentucky, I never remember the ice or snow keeping me inside too much. As a younger person, I spent hours taking long walks. I love being able to see the shape and contours of the land. Now I see it largely from my van, yet, the views here in our North Georgia suburban neighborhoods are breathtakingly beautiful, surrounded by winter's spartan landscape. Instead of 5 mile hikes, now I putter around my little plot of the American pie like a good rheumatic. Part of the reason I keep this little diary is to remind myself of things I want to do, places and books to explore...well, again, I'll write that I want very much to get back to taking pictures and learn how to put them on this blog. So far, I am dependent on my hubby and my firstborn to help me with the photos. While I'm at it, I want to learn to paint. Our new house has a room on the terrace level to use as a playroom/art studio. Art and architecture have become quite the passion around here, for years, as all the children love to color, draw, paint and build. Being a stay-at-home mom has been for me the greatest ongoing Christmas gift a woman could ever hope to have.

Our Lady of Guadelupe, pray for us!

It is hard for me to settle down and write because there is so much to do! So, I ask our Lady's intercession to bring me down a few notches to pause and reflect. After a very relaxing, long weekend in Kentucky, with Dad's brother and mother and father over the Thanksgiving holiday, we came back to Georgia ready to prepare for Christmas and for our move to Cumming in January. While we were in Kentucky, our Mimi and I decided to work together to make a Polish meal, when we return back to their home in Kentucky, as part of our Christmas 2008 celebration. A couple of days ago, the children and I checked out a bunch of books on Poland at one of our local libraries. This morning we read this inspiring picture book, Escaping to America: A True Story, by Rosalyn Schanzer. This is such an appropriate story, given the season. Speaking of Advent, we are getting very enthusiastic about Gaudete Sunday. Having never roasted a turkey, I hope to talk my husband into giving it a try this Sunday. I have stuffing mix from Trader Joe's and apples and sweet potatoes to bowl or stew in the slow cooker. I just need to buy some green beans and the turkey. I hope to post more on our Polish studies as there is more to it than what I have here. Also, we are so grateful for our son's performance in The Small One night before last. We also have been blessed to be able to serve, outside the home, more than usual; and, I notice, with the children a year older, that this Advent 2008 has seen many more quiet-working-together moments...nothing spectacular, just the pleasant calm of cleaning and organizing together.

John James Audubon's beautiful paintings and violence in America and Great Britain...

We read this book this fall and loved it. I am from Kentucky and want my children to learn about the independence, bravery and creativity of the people of the Kentucky wilderness. When I was in RCIA, back in 1999-2000, a dear man, who is now a Deacon, gave me Kentucky Spring, the biography of Catherine Spalding. I want to research Daniel Boone and other frontiersmen and women. (Here is a good link to learn more about Catherine Spalding.)The 1800's was, in Europe, often a complex and spoiled time. Meanwhile, in this country, there was much simplicity and purity. We had no blue bloods; we also had no landed gentry, but soon, settlers would create good farms and estates in a very short period of time. In the early colonial period, there was misunderstanding and violence on this continent as well, as this book, about St. Isaac Jogues, which we also read this fall, attests. It was during our studies this fall that I realized the close parallel of tyranny and repression among the Jesuit fathers in Great Britain and the pioneering Jesuits who came to bring Christ to the New World. The pioneer spirit is captivating. St. Edmund Campion and St. John Fisher were every bit the brave pioneers, as was Isaac Jogues. I think many of the pilgrim fathers and mothers sensed the corruption that the Church of England had brought to those trying to live a life in accordance with the Gospels. One day the Church will be united. I believe this. What is needed is for more individuals to really peruse the history books. We cannot be satisfied with televised histories. As much as I like film, especially documentary film, as a means to educate, I think we need more scholarship. Scholars dig and read and write and speak about that which they are reading and writing. Some of the best scholarship has and will go on outside of formal institutions. Good scholarship stimulates the mind and enflames the heart for truth. A film can provoke, that is true. I worry, at times, that we are overly visual, which can lead to intellectual and spiritual laziness. Well, I hope for peace. I yearn for Charity. I think we are not loving when we let lies parade as truth. Whether physical or metaphysical, violence is a distortion of the truth. The power of the Holy Spirit is -- beyond words -- more powerful than any physical or spiritual violence. To keep this country from repeating history and turning to tyranny, we must ask the Holy Spirit to intervene. Come, Holy Spirit, come! Fill the hearts of the faithful...

Architecture for Kids

No surprise that I would find -- while reading Willa's inspiring blog -- this blog with all kinds of great resources for studying art and architecture. I ordered Cathedral (we have City) as a Christmas present for Little Man, but the truth is, all three love to draw. Everyone is playing these Sims games...well, I'm dreaming and planning some projects for Winter 2009. Here is a link to the tumultuous history of Canterbury Cathedral, pictured above. I just found this link to the work of David Macaulay; and, after glancing at it realize that I just missed what was probably such a good exhibit in nearby Memphis, TN!

Seasonal Books

I am glad to report that I fanned our waning flame for quality literature by reading the inspiring story, Brother Bartholomew to J and JB. The artwork in this book is lovely. We have the October pages of the Provensen's book displayed, as well as a lovely autumnal water color on pgs. 26-27 in The Seasons, an absolutely lovely book combining art and poetry. It is part of the Poetry for Young People series that I buy, from time to time, at our nearby Barnes and Noble. Here are links:

The Year At Maple Hill Farm by Alice Provensen, Martin Provensen

Frankenstein, from Barnes and Noble Classic Starts series

JB finished the Pauline biography of St. Ignatius Loyola. We need to get to the library and re-fuel on Henry and Mudge. I am reading the Ignatius Critical edition of Frankenstein.

Here is a "Vagabond Song," by Bliss Carman from The Seasons:

There is something in the autumn that is native to my blood--

Touch of manner, hint of mood;

And my heart is like a rhyme,

With the yellow and the purple and the crimson keeping time.

The scarlet of the maples can shake me like a cry

Of bugles going by.

And my lonely spirit thrills

To see the frosty asters like a smoke upon the hills.

There is something in October sets the gypsy blood astir;

We must rise and follow her,

When from every hill of flame

She calls and calls each vagabond by name.

A picture book for all ages -- The Happy Rain.

The Happy Rain (click here for link) was such a good read. It is a picture book for all ages, especially those who like a good laugh! It is written by Jack Sendak and illustrated by Maurice Sendak (Where the Wild Things Are was a favorite of mine: I read it to J last week.) Highlights: While the flowering trees and shrubs, our pink tulips and the tender lime green shoots of the deciduous trees are easy on the eyes, it has been overcast and chilly here. Good time for clutter removal. We had our house enthroned to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary last Thursday -- very solemn and fun and beautiful -- the quintessential "both/and" of Catholicism (that's for you, Rach...). What else? Lots of playtime with friends. First dance class for JB. First "Mud class" for J; he made a squirrel which we'll see, after firing, next Thursday. Oh! and, last Friday, Mom and friend, Lisa, had a needed MNO. Some of my friends know that I really like Holly Pierlot's book A Mother's Rule of Life. I should write a rule of life for disabled ("differently abled," if you like, which I do!) moms. Christianity really covers all the bases. If I just show up for the practice of my faith, I am amazed at how creative we can be in getting the really important things done. My prolonged illness and subsequent disability has taught me, and still teaches me at every turn, how important it is to reach out for support and encouragement. And, of course, to be a source of support and encouragement. M took the above photo with her phone at J's 1st "Mud" class. A blessed Eastertide to us all!

"It's soft and dry and doesn't fly."

I had a few hours to run errands by myself this past Saturday. One of my stops was the library. I checked out three Henry and Mudge books by Cynthia Rylant. JB loved these books, and J does too. Henry's cousin, Annie, gets a pet rabbit. She does not want a turtle -- wet -- or a crab -- hard -- or bird -- that would fly around crashing into things. Hence, Snowball, the rabbit, is "soft and dry and doesn't fly." J copied today's date and this sentence in very inventive script.

The kids and I are leaving for Cumming here in a few. Challenge girls' club is such a blessing. I need to take more time to count my blessings as I am in serious need of an attitude adjustment. I have been very negative lately (I experience waves of negativity.). I know the remedy: prayer. So, please pray for me and I'll pray more for myself.

Berta and Elmer

Well, I'd sure like to know more about this artistic team, Berta and Elmer Hader, the authors and illustrators of the beautiful picture book, The Big Snow. What is in a name? On another funny note, number 3 child has decided to really suffer this Lent. He has given up corn, yes, corn. No, he does not eat corn everyday. There is no love affair with the vegetable.

I was temporarily in Heaven today as my husband worked from home, and we all prayed the Noon Mass together. Number 2 child kept whispering to me if she could just go to the bathroom for a sec to see how her ashes looked...I quietly whispered back to wait until Mass was over. She was ok with that.

What a sweet life this is. Full of ups and downs and ins and outs. I would not trade it for anything. Just when we needed to step back and take stock, Mother Church opens Her arms wide and receives us as we are. Acceptance and love are intertwined. Our Lord demands so much of Himself and so little of us. At the same time, we must strive to be holy because it pleases Him so much. It is so unoriginal to say this, but....God does not need our effort. It is truly a "love thing" -- meaning that He desires our goodness because He loves us so much that He wants to see us happy and content. As Fr. Mike said as much today, a high price was paid for our salvation. I hope my dear children will grow to understand the compassion of our God.

Second Cup

If you click here, you will see this wonderful book we read yesterday by Jerry Pallotta; the artwork and the text are so enriching. Our winter term is off to a good start. Today, later this afternoon, we go back to our clarinet and guitar lessons after a big break. Yesterday, Joy-Beth and Jay used some of the money they received as gifts for Christmas to purchase some more furry friends here at Casa Sullivan. Joy-Beth has a new dwarf hamster named "Winnie" for Winter, and Jaybird has a good-looking black and white guinea pig, which the children named "Oreo". We are also reading Mary Fabyan Windeatt's lively book, King David and His Songs: A Story of the Psalms (here). I am really looking forward to the arrival of a book order from Adoremus books and also some used books from Ebay and Half.com by Ebay. With the new year back in swing, I hope to try some new housekeeping strategies: the "Tuesday Tackle" and "Friday Floors"....this is inspired by Holly Pierlot's book, A Mother's Rule of Life. I also want to try to write everyday.

Thank you Lord for this new year 2008. Please grant us the grace to do your Holy Will in our thoughts, words and deeds. Amen

Lent and Norse Myths

I am off to bed to read some of these stories to Jay and Joy-Beth. Maggie is sewing. Our "Lenten resolution," as a family, is to eat out less. For the first time in years, I shopped for food for the week and, so far, so good. We are gearing up for the girls to be in their plays in April with our homeschooling coop. This is short and sweet, as I am very tired after a big day in the sun. The weather here was heavenly, and we took advantage of it and had lunch and lessons on our back deck. The breeze and sun were refreshing. I read yesterday's Mass readings in my Magnificat, along with Evening Prayers, and was very comforted by the Psalm. It was Psalm 79: 6, 9, 11 and 13:

R. (see 103:10a) Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.

Remember not against us the iniquities of the past; may your compassion quickly come to
us, for we are brought very low.

R. Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.

Help us, O God our savior, because of the glory of your name; Deliver us and
pardon our sinsfor your name’s sake.

R. Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.

Let the prisoners’ sighing come before you; with your great power free
those doomed to death. Then we, your people and the sheep of your pasture, will
give thanks to you forever; through all generations we will declare your
praise.

R. Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.

George Washington's Breakfast

We read the Jean Fritz book yesterday to kick off a mini George Washington/American colonial history study this week. Today is Jay's birthday -- praise be to God! We are de-cluttering our basement and selling a bunch of toys at our parish's indoor "yard" sale this weekend. We will read this inspiring book, George Washington, today. I want to learn a bit more about this award-winning married couple who created such beautiful books for children. I'll link it later. Gotta run 'cause the kids are really excited for Jay's birthday festivities! At least I do not have to cross a freezing river. I only have to wake up my stiff body.