Loving Christ Jesus

Reading this blog post by Mark Mallett and trying to stay upbeat even though we have a lingering stomach-flu over here. It gives more time for prayer; I wish I had more energy for cleaning.

This post is sure to warm the soul.

Jewett's Maine and "Why do you read blogs?"

Far too many days have passed without my taking a little afternoon siesta, so, with my husband home from work today, I indulged in some reading in bed and then a big afternoon siesta. Sarah Orne Jewett's Country of the Pointed Firs does just what a good book ought to do: it captivates the reader. (As an aside, I prefer to be captivated in a wholesome, edifying way. I love quirkiness and humor, but nothing pointlessly dark or dirty.) Artists often talk of "losing themselves" in their work; this feeling spills over to the receiver of the artistry. I was lost listening to the virile storytelling of "Captain Littlepage" in Chapter 5.

I went to bed thinking about a question another homeschooling mom posed at her blog, "Heaven, not Harvard" (click: here for the link); she asked, "Why do you read blogs?" Indeed, why? Why write them? How is blogging better than publishing your life or work or business on a webpage? The first blog I read somewhat regularly was Amy Welborn's "Open Book," which I have not looked at in some time. I was, at the time, feeling called to home educate our children. So, I started reading some blogs by Catholic home educating moms. I have always been an avid reader.

On the writing end, I think blogging a form of journalism. Clearly, it is more personal and few of us get paid for it! We who take the time to keep this online journal called a blog are very often motivated to touch the lives of others. I think our "payment" is often in the form of enrichment, edification, and entertainment -- laughter is good, good medicine! Erma Bombeck would have blogged; I'm sure of it!

I do not have a funny style and don't tell stories like I'd like to....I do care passionately about what I do. I love my family and cannot properly express what a gift it is that the good Lord would give us this time to grow, worship and learn together. As usual, I have more thoughts swarming in my head, but I gotta sign off for now. Here is a very "unschooly" quote from the quirky and capable "Mrs. Todd". This reflects my own concern regarding too much rigor in our planning/scheduling.

In Chapter 8, she says, "I must say I like variety myself; some folks washes Monday an' irons Tuesday the whole year round, even if the circus is goin' by!"

P.S. I think blogs are more engaging than webpages, but, then again, each serves different purposes. I have seen them work nicely together, as is the case with love2learn.net.

To blog or not to blog

It has been 10 days since my last post; and, we have been so busy living that I am not writing much. I attended my third Christ Renews His Parish CRHP ("Chirp") retreat this past weekend and experienced some amount of post-Chirpdom depression most of the week. The kids have been great and their work inspires me to pray harder and work harder. We ordered new books by mail; we love Adoremus Books. Times are hectic and noisy, yet here at our home, we often do not feel the hustle and bustle of the world. Cutting off from cable television four years ago has made such an improvement in our quality of life. I mostly watched A&E, HGTV and EWTN, but now I read more, cook more and talk to my friends and family more. I think I am more open to having people over as well, cause I cannot flip on the t.v. for company. And, yes, I love being invited over to my friends' houses. I am blessed to have so many friends. Some are active in homeschooling. I am often socializing with children, which I love. That being said, my husband and I are overdue for a date night.

I am always in need of being more organized. The reason I should blog more is that it will help me manage me-- and, trust me, I am very unruly <:! My Catholic faith is such a true friend to me. Receiving the Lord in the Holy Eucharist, being absolved in public in the confessional, "Son-bathing" at Adoration and clinging to traditional devotions like the Rosary and the Saints.....all these facets of Jesus's Ecclesia are deeply personal to me and make me strive to live life for Heaven. I am constantly falling short of this goal, but the goal is very clear. I think the children, in their untainted way, really understand what living their lives for God means. They understand this because they understand who Jesus is, why He came and what He came to do. I hope these blessed days will remain in them. I pray that these days are like money in the bank, spiritually speaking that is.

I semi-regularly visit this blog: http://happycatholic.blogspot.com/2007/04/fine-art-friday_27.html and, I was so excited to find this video with one of my favorite contemporary Christian singers, Sara Groves:

http://www.glyphnet.com/jeremiah/JeremiahLarge.html

And, look at this amazing Cathedral in, of all places, West Virginia: http://www.socalpix.com/wheelinglarge/index.html

May God bless anyone who takes the time to read all of these ramblings. Like the "happy Catholic," I too may not always be happy, but I am so happy and blessed to be Catholic. It is truly a case of His body and blood enlivening my weak and sin-prone flesh.