A poem I wrote...

My Weak Heart

Wanting God more than comfort,
Wanting what our Father in Heaven,
desires in us and
for us...

God's Plan involves our willingness
to completely and utterly deny ourselves,
to look away from what we are looking at
and look at Him, pleading with
Him to kindle the fire of
Divine Love in our pitiful, weak hearts.

God's Baptism

One of the many things my children have "taught" me is that Jesus is God. I do not think a child could ever be a heretic. Many years ago, when my husband and I hung our lovely pictures of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary in our dining room, I pointed up to our Lord, and asked my little son who He was -- his simple reply, "God". Yesterday's Mass celebrated God's Baptism, and we were visitors over at St. Benedicts, where we were blessed to hear what everyone needs to hear, the depth of God's love and mercy. His grace is sufficient to allow us the courage to start every day afresh. Normal life is so saturated with sin and guilt. Supernatural life is not just the opposite of this because it varies according to our willingness to participate in it (if that makes sense). I took this lovely image from EWTN's website.

Chesterton's Brave New Family and the Twilight series

I have been working my way through JPII's Mulieris Dignitatem. Last fall, at one of my Catholic mom discussion/prayers groups, I brought up the force of argument and sheer prophecy of Chesterton's Brave New Family, which I checked out of my parish library when I was pregnant with our Little Man. At the time, I read alot of it, but want to buy it, re-read it, talk and write about it. A Culture of Life exists in this country, even amidst all the decay of our country's moral fabric. That our grandchildren might see more life and light and love is a goal held by many. I think the author of the Twilight series has tapped in to the hope of many people --young and old-- that Americans could uphold the true meaning of love, of committment, of self-restraint, of the life of the soul and of marriage and family. Hope needs to be truly heroic these days. As we encourage our young people to fight for what is right, a Culture of Life will flourish and, one day, reign supreme, as it ought. (Btw, my "jury" is still out on Twilight, until I finish the series, but I think I see where it is going.)

White winter sky here in Georgia...

You can probably tell from my blog background that I'd really like to see some snow, an infrequent guest here in Georgia. I do not think it will happen today, as it is 50 degrees. Still, I find the bare trees, the visible contours of the hills around us, and the general paleness of everything so very lovely. This week I got to see what all the hype is regarding the Wii game, "Guitar Hero". All three of my children love it and play and play and play. Not all the music is good, some is very bad and some of it is very good. The fashion and "decor" are, for the most, perfectly awful, but it all leads to lots of rousing discussion.

You are what you read: Yesterday, as I was poking around the Internet, I found this site, and dream of magazine writing. I used to be very athletic and writing is alot like a sport. The more you work at it, the more supple and skillful you become. Godspy's e-zine is, for me, an excellent example of how pertinent, creative and provoking an online medium can be when it comes to using the Internet to bring on JPII's "new springtime of evangelization". I also really like The American Spectator. I have to go now because I am very absorbed in book number two of the Twilight series. I hope my husband survives it -- I want to bite your nehhck!

Just passing through...

We are pretty sure to have identified a pair of Northern rough-winged swallows in the pale, bare branches of our Dogwood tree. I think they were probably journeying from Canada down farther south. Our woodsy backyard is lovely this time of year. We also watched a red-headed woodpecker work the tree very near our breakfast room bay window. Our Jaybird bounced out of bed this morning asking to read and write. He really likes my idea of assigning a historical period to our regular days (Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays)...he called today's theme: World War II and did excellent copy work. Later today, I'll post on the homeschooling journal, which, quite frankly, I was about to rename "Uncontrolled Fits of Nastiness," due to daughter numero dos's awful behavior of late. She seems to be much recovered after a big talking to...

Bonus for Mom: quiet time at 10 in the morning....

So, what am I doing, but dreaming about this lovely lemon bread. I am also filing away some paperwork and trying to clear the big shelf in the dining room, where most of our homeschooling books, notebooks and workbooks are hanging out. What a mess! We are off to Challenge today and so glad to see everyone, cause lots of teams are meeting at same time, same place -- how good!

I woke up thinking about a watercoloring technique I saw in a catalogue a few weeks ago...more later on that...Go over to the Bonnie Glen for a post full of resources for families wanting to learn Greek and Latin.

Intrigued by the work of Paul Johnson...

I printed this article out a couple of days ago and haven't had time to read it. I'd also like to read his book on George Washington.

Celebrating from Epiphany until The Baptism of the Lord

We are off to 5pm Mass on this blessed Feast of the Epiphany. We are all ready, willing and able to get back to work tomorrow, even though Christmas is not over. We have shopped, feasted, partied and prayed. We have also cooked, rested and done some cleaning. With Dad going back to work, there will be more house work and cooking for us to do. He has been such a blessing around the house and taking us out to lunch right and left.

As of today, I have a new homeschooling blog ,and, it is a journal of somewhat unrelaxed Catholic unschooling, if I may choose that label for myself. I love to learn, to follow rabbit trails, to be free to keep doing what I am doing if I am doing it well, so these are some family goals too. Dad came up with the name; it is what he wanted to do today.

We did not go out to the house today, as we usually do, because we drove by on New Year's Day and things looked the same. Hopefully, by a week from today, we'll see more construction.

More looking back: April -- December 2008

In April, J took his first class where he was left alone for a couple of hours -- and, pottery was a hit! On the same day, April 3, we had our home enthroned to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. JB acted the role of Alice in TORCH's Alice in Wonderland. The girls and I enjoyed, for the first time, the Pure Fashion Show. Grandparents returned for a visit while Mom went on a CRHP retreat and more juggling of lots of weekly activities. Maggie acted in TORCH's Tom Sawyer. In May, we finally went on a TORCH field trip to awesome Amicalola Falls, celebrated Maggie's b-day, took standardized tests at Homeschool Hangout, went to a Challenge Youth Rally at St. Brigids, Mom coordinated a fun ladies nite out at Greenwood's Restaurant, and, we headed to the beach on the 31st with our dear friends the Mercados. In June, we enjoyed having our first week-long vacation at the beach, kept up Monday Adoration and Tuesday guitar lessons, had an adventure at the Atlanta airport and JB did swim team. Jerry drove all the kiddos up to BGKY so that we could have a our (third?) annual vacation at home alone for a few days. I stirred up trouble when I asked Rachel to come look at new home construction with me up in Cumming. She and I had a yummy Cuban meal at a quaint family place that has since gone out of business. It is rare for me to have a half-day getaway with a friend without young people to serve and love. It is good with them and good to have a little break now and then. In July, we kept up Monday Adoration and Tuesday guitar and caught up with our cousins at the lake and later poolside. We signed our contract on the house we are building in Cumming on July 14th! I had done lots of research when J and JB were at Hannah's Horse Camp and M was still in KY working in the office; in fact, this desire to reside in Forsyth county (...we really like Dawson Co. too...) began back when M was in Kindergarten at Pinecrest Academy. In August, we changed our Holy Hour to Thursdays, worked at our TORCH yard sale, took a spontaneous trip to the beach with Linda, Hannah, Savannah and Maddie, celebrated Dad's b-day with grandparents here, officially started homeschooling on the 18th and began Coop classes on Marine Biology on the 29th. In September, got in the groove at home, JB started private math lessons, had a ball at our parish picnic, J went on a Challenge retreat, began a weekly art class for JB and J, M began weekly youth group classes, heard a most genuine political speech, Challenge Kick-Off, Mom's b-day, was taught by JB why I do what I do, had fun parties with Rosses and Mercados and spent two nights camping at the lake with our annual TORCH Camporee. In October, Mom re-joined Familia apostolate to study authentic feminism and deepen my prayer life, took kids to Mayfield Dairy Farms with TORCH, all of us got the live, attenuated flu nasal mist, M went to the Holy Spirit Monastery with St. Andrew's Youth Group. I wrote something good inspired by my dear friend, and killer good writer, Sara B. We were so grateful for successful emergency surgery for TR, and, we ended the month by Dad and I hosting fun family dinner with Clarks here on All Hallows Eve. Somewhere in all this we were de-cluttering and packing boxes -- notice the lack of pictures of our mess here. In November, the Presidential Election was big. A special Rite of Welcoming for J at a Saturday Family Mass as part of his preparation for First Eucharist. A very big and fruitful girls retreat for our M, and a lovely family meal at the Gallamores. Presentation Day to end our Coop; and, November 23rd, the Feast of Christ the King, goes down as highpoint in Mom's life as she became a part of Regnum Christi with all her family, and many dear friends, present. We went to BGKY for Thanksgiving for some needed r & r. Advent 2008 began and we greeted the liturgical new year with hope and happiness, as our Faith allows, no matter what the circumstances. In December, the house really took shape. Dad went to Mass with us on Monday the 8th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, the 10th was TORCH Advent night, and the 13th was an evening marriage retreat hosted by Familia. Gaudete Sunday was even more joyful than usual. Mom went on a women's evening retreat at Pinecrest on the 16th, the 17th we had our last Challenge --look at these girls go -- and, the 18th were auditions for upcoming TORCH spring drama productions. The 20-23 we went back to BGKY and had the blessing to see all the grandparents. The children insisted that we be here in this house for Christmas. It was quiet and lovely and playful. The 31st we spent with friends new and old.

Our 2008 in review: January - March...

These are just a few memories; obviously, much more was going on. I am looking back at both blog posts and my planning notebook to hit some highlights on this 9th Day of Christmas. Today, in a couple of hours, we are giving Dad a total vacation day as I meet my friend Amy and her children for a movie. In January, we were loving acrostic poetry and Jan Brett books (also, the book The Big Snow, which may already be packed and ready to go to Cumming....). I went to a TORCH MNO (Mother's Night Out) and was very inspired to hear a glimpse of the Caprara's prayer life and homeschool journey. I was thinking alot about schole -- that leisure and culture are intertwined, that some form of unschooling is utterly compatible with Catholicism. It was a lovely snow on JB's birthday. I had just met my dear friend Sandra, went to see dear Regans in CYT's Charlie Brown, Rach and I were continuing weekly play dates/coffee talk, 1st time to see TORCH Talent Show, was doing CRHP, taking lots of music lessons (M in both clarinet and guitar). In February, JB got a terrible case of the flu. J, JB and I began Latin studies. Lent began so early on the 6th. We were notebooking and house cleaning-- having an especially good time with Latin studies. Lots of good work with Challenge. J's b-day and grandparents visit and M goes on Middle School Youth Group retreat. M was reading lots of Rachel Ray and cooking alot. In March, we continued our Monday Adoration, music lessons, Challenge, TORCH, dinner with Mercados, and girls both went to Challenge Holy Week convention. Easter was in March, and it was a very chilly month here.

Let us sing a new song...

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, Blessed Art Thou Among Women, and Blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus....I was just reminded of the fact that the ancient name given to our Lord, Yeshua, means "God saves". Oh, my! What goodness dwells among us and, with such amazing possibility, can dwell profoundly in the hearts of men. We are off to noon Mass on this 8th Day of Christmas. It was on the 8th day, after His blessed birth, that our Savior was circumcised. I love the ancient rites, the eternal Sacraments, all these are never tired, always fresh, always there to renew us in heart and mind. May we all experience a wave of grace and blessing in 2009! Newness in Christ Jesus is ever necessary and ever beautiful! The 7th Day of Christmas was a mini vacation for Mom (me). I dropped J and JB off at a friend's house to celebrate a birthday, went to the library and Harry's Farmer's Market, while Dad and M went up to collect everyone. We all met back here and readied ourselves to celebrate -- here, there and yonder -- New Year's Eve. My friend is putting our dinner on shutterfly, so hopefully I can put some of the photos on the blog. All we had going on last night was a warm and wonderful way to ring in 2009. Back to today, we took a drive after Mass and ate lunch up in Cumming and really enjoyed driving around, what is usually a very congested area, with nearly no traffic. We are going to buy a GPS for the van when the prices come down some, so it was great to have a chance for Dad to drive while Mom cased out the back roads. I had been taking the one "main drag," Ronald Reagan Blvd (...yes, Forsyth County is very conservative...); and my hubby helped me find some shortcuts.

The 6th Day of Christmas -- journaling...

It is the 6th Day of Christmas and everyone is rising in a leisurely manner. I am absolutely loving awakening to a quiet home, and it staying that way for a good, long while. It was 35 degrees here, when I let the dogs out around 7am. I puffed out the smoky-looking air and perused the woods behind us -- beautiful and quiet and dimly lit. We are heading downtown to IKEA today, later. Looking back to the 5th Day of Christmas: Yesterday my friend Lisa picked up Little Man to go for a playdate with her daughter and new puppies. The girls and I left Dad alone with his woodchip pile to go to the Mall (...I am thinking of writing, at some point, about "Mallschooling" -- catchy, no?). It was clear and a bit brisk, perfect for shoveling and Dad did shovel and spread lots of mulch over our muddy backyard. The Mall Foodcourt was crowded with happy moms and tweens and teens -- very nice to see others enjoying what I get to enjoy often. Maybe I am a starry-eyed optimist, but I see so much goodness around me. We live in a very safe and, for lack of a better way to put it, a well-educated area of American Suburbia. As a southerner, I feel the South here in Georgia, even though North Atlanta is mostly transplants from everywhere. It is so much cheaper to live here than any other metro area in the U.S., or the planet, for that matter, that it is very amenable to family life. You can enjoy big city perks and still afford a nice house with a good-sized yard...well, anyway: the girls talked me in to a new outfit, at a rock bottom price...then, we picked up Little Man, saw our friends' new puppies, chatted with their family, Mom (yours truly) sipped a half glass of good red wine, and then back home to change clothes, drink tea, leave the boys at home and then off to AMC Cinemas to use Dad's gift card from work to see Twilight. M read all four books since T-giving and I read about a quarter of the first book last nite. I like it. I like it alot. More on that, later. So many hunger and thirst for the truths of the Old Faith which is also known as Catholicism...more later, very important topic and do not want to botch it...Adios for now, dear Christmas journal.