Pondered In My Heart

Our Marian ATC's

So I posted about the Marian ATC swap the other day and put up a Mr. Linky for people to share the cards they got, and I forgot to show you ours!

Most people should have gotten their cards by now so I can also show you my table covered with cards, from the mom's section-

 

all the way across the table to the youngest artists. Many little girls (mine included) firmly believe Our Lady likes to wear pink sometimes along with her customary blue. :-)

Here are the beautiful cards I received -

Here are the gorgeous cards Josiah got-
 

These are the beauties Lydia received-

Here are the lovely cards Anna got-

These are the beautiful cards Mary Rose received-
 

And here are Eliza's delightful new treasures -

And last but by no means least, Kateri received these lovelies-
 
 

So precious, the drawings from the littlest ones! Aren't all the cards fabulous!?! Everyone here loves their cards, and we're having fun visiting the blogs and pointing out the 'famous artists' they now know by name.

It has been such a pleasure to see and appreciate all the creative talent and diverse styles of all the wonderful artists of all ages, and we thank you all again for participating.

Ave Maria!

He's Back

Just a note to say Josiah is back from his blogging break. If you want to know what teenage boys do all day you can pop over and see his latest artwork, and learn how creative thinking helps you out even as an altar boy. 

You can also find out how we came to have the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph back on our family altar. I have these old statues that had fallen (quite literally) into disrepair. A vintage look is one thing, but these were in such bad shape that I felt it wasn't appropriate to display them. Josiah has fixed all that and word of his talents is spreading. When we had our June First Friday homeschool gathering here, I opened the door to find one of the little girls bearing a statue of St. Therese. She was so excited, Look! I brought St. Therese! she said as she handed it to me, and her sisters chimed in as well, She brought St. Therese! She brought St. Therese! I was racking my brain trying to figure out the connection between St. Therese and the Sacred Heart, but it turned out St. Therese was for Josiah to work on. It is such a blessing when a child uses his talents and abilities for the glory of God (and it warms a mother's heart at the same time too)!

Seven Quick Takes Friday

1. Just around the corner -
 

is Lent. That means for now it is-

 

Septuagesima!

Yes, the priest is already wearing purple during this season that is sometimes called 'pre-Lent'. It is unfortunate that Septuagesima was eliminated in the new calendar because it is such a logical, practical season. Lent is so very important that we need time to prepare for it so it doesn't catch us unawares. I am thankful for this time to think and prepare and pray about what sacrifices and spiritual practices my family and I will undertake during this holy season of Lent. I am finding it most helpful to ask the Holy Spirit to show me what I should do this Lent, and to spend this time praying for the grace to be able to accomplish it.

2. With thoughts of Lent, I will try to get more recipes posted on my neglected cooking blog. There are currently a number of soups and pastas and such which you may find helpful, and it's all meatless. ;-) And as Bridget requested, I will try to get up my recipes from the other night's menu.

3. Just for the record, I did not get my menu or my recipe from Fr. Z! Eggplant parmesan has long been a standard 'company dish' of ours.  We were highly amused when we got home from the store the other morning with our eggplants, (Not Zucchinis!) and found the good Father's post. (Don't you think those two ought to stop fighting for Lent? Or maybe they'll just have the duel before then?)

4. If Charlotte tweaked your interest in the Ranger's Apprentice series, Josiah has a bit of a review over on his blog.

5.  Thank you all so much for your kind comments on my Valentine post! I am truly delighted to know so many of you found my ideas helpful, and I hope you are having a lovely time crafting with your little loves.

6. Do you count? Don't forget this is the weekend of the Great Backyard Bird Count! Visit the site for more information and directions - anyone can count and you can count all the birds you see, not just at your home site. You know we love birds around here, especially Lydia, so we will be making our counts count like last year.

7. That's all I can think of for now. I'm sure I'll come up with something else after I hit save.

So Lovely

I've just visited an inspiring new blog written by Louise's lovely daughter Lydia, a homeschool graduate who is now a college student. Her reflections on how her happy childhood have shaped the woman she is today - a lover of beauty and nature and words and music and family and life - are a reassuring comfort and peek ahead to those of us still in the throes of raisings little ones. With beautiful photographs of birds and blooms and even laundry, it promises to be a beautiful, soothing spot to stop for tea, already living up to the title:  Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace. I think my Lydia will like it too.

Bloggy Love

Once upon a time Heather of Doodle Acres gave me this sweet blog award and I am finally getting around to responding. I hope she still hearts my blog after all this time. I got to meet Heather and her lovely daughter last summer - what a treat! I'm supposed to answer the following questions with just one word, and then pass the award on to three others. I don't think I can stick to one word for all of them... The questions are as follows: 1. Where is your cell phone? tote bag 2. Where is dh? reading 3. Your hair color? brown 4. Your mother? tired 5. Your father? requiescat in pacem 6. Your favorite thing? joy 7. Your dream last night? strange 8. Your dream/goal? heaven 9. The room you’re in? office 10. Your hobby? making rosaries, crochet 11. Your fear? sudden death, causing harm 12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? here 13. Where were you last night? home 14. What you’re not? indifferent 15. One of your wish-list items? vacuum 16. Where you grew up? Connecticut 17. The last thing you did? nursed Kateri to sleep 18. What are you wearing? skirt, sweater, boots, scarf 19. Your TV? just DVD's 20. Your pet? meow 21. Your computer? shared 22. Your mood? peaceful 23. Missing someone? Jonathan 24. Your car? Suburban 25. Something you’re not wearing? hat 26. Favorite store? thrift 27. Your summer? flew by 28. Love someone? many someones, lots 29. Your favorite color? green, brown, blue 30. When is the last time you laughed? short while ago 31. Last time you cried? the other day

 I now pass this heartfelt on to back-in-blogland Diane (or Banana Head, as Eliza calls her when she begs to hear her sing) at The Journey of a Mother's Heart, Bridget at Our Magnum Opus (everyone loves Bridget - there's no need to explain), and Susie at Susie's Ramblings even though she doesn't really ramble, she writes beautifully.

Next I'm supposed to go and tell those bloggers that I heart their blogs - can you see why this has taken me so long? I'm not very good at getting my homework done on time...

Once upon a time Heather of Doodle Acres gave me this sweet blog award and I am finally getting around to responding. I hope she still hearts my blog after all this time. I got to meet Heather and her lovely daughter last summer - what a treat!

I'm supposed to answer the following questions with just one word, and then pass the award on to three others. I don't think I can stick to one word for all of them...

The questions are as follows:
1. Where is your cell phone? tote bag
2. Where is dh? reading
3. Your hair color? brown
4. Your mother? tired
5. Your father? requiescat in pacem
6. Your favorite thing? joy
7. Your dream last night? strange
8. Your dream/goal? heaven
9. The room you’re in? office
10. Your hobby? making rosaries, crochet
11. Your fear? sudden death, causing harm
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? here
13. Where were you last night? home
14. What you’re not? indifferent
15. One of your wish-list items? vacuum
16. Where you grew up? Connecticut
17. The last thing you did? nursed Kateri to sleep
18. What are you wearing? skirt, sweater, boots, scarf
19. Your TV? just DVD's
20. Your pet? meow
21. Your computer? shared
22. Your mood? peaceful
23. Missing someone? Jonathan
24. Your car? Suburban
25. Something you’re not wearing? hat
26. Favorite store? thrift
27. Your summer? flew by
28. Love someone? many someones, lots
29. Your favorite color? green, brown, blue
30. When is the last time you laughed? short while ago
31. Last time you cried? the other day

New Blog

 

Hear Ye, Hear Ye!!!

Josiah has started a blog!

It's called Random Interesting Stuff.

Go see. Or at least send your kids to.

Thank you!

Pondering Parables

Cheryl has tagged me for the Favorite Parables meme. I didn't think I would blog during Holy Week but who can resist being asked to post about your favorite parables? Surely not I.

1. The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard Matthew 20:1-16

I love this parable because it so clearly shows the infinite mercy and generosity and wisdom of our God. We read this and our flesh cries out it's not fair! Even our intellect wants to rebel at the seeming injustice of it. But the ways of Our Lord are not our ways. We cannot fit His mercy and generosity into our little human thinking box of fairness. This parable is Our Lord's answer even today for those who do not know Him and think it's too late....I've ignored Him my whole life...I can't come to Him now when I need Him... I can't turn to Him now just because I'm sick and dying... This parable shows us that God's mercy and generosity and loving care are sufficient for all of us, no matter when we come to Him. He gives us a day's wages - that is all that we need for the day, our daily bread. Just come. No matter if the sun is setting, no matter what else you've been doing all day, no matter how the others who have been working hard all day make you feel. Just come.

2. The Parable of the Sower Matthew 13: 1-23

This familiar parable of the sower has so much to teach us. We all know people who have heard the Truth of the gospel and have reacted in the various ways described in the parable. Most of us at one time or another has played the various types of soil regarding different issues or revelations or things the Lord is trying to teach us in our lives. But the reason this parable is one of my favorites is the last line: But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirty fold.  This is the line that gives me comfort in life in general and this Catholic homeschooling life in particular - the line that frees me from any temptation to compare myself to my sisters in this journey. The seed that fell on rich soil can bear thirty or sixty or a hundredfold. We can hear the word and bear fruit, but our 'produce' is not all going to be equal. We can all be faithful followers, good rich soil, but our fruit baskets are not necessarily going to all look alike and we should each be happy with what each one of us is equipped to produce.

3. The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree Luke 13:6-9

I love this parable because it is such a beautiful example of God's care and patience and mercy. He tenderly cares for us and gives us what we need to be able to bear fruit that is pleasing to Him. Just as the gardener is reluctant to give up on the fig tree, Our Lord does not want to give up on us. On the contrary, He is willing to help us, whether it is by pruning, extra feeding, or just giving us more time. This story is also constant encouragement for us as parents if we are tempted to fret or judge our own little fig trees too soon.

4. The Parable of the Friend at Midnight Luke 11:5-13

This parable is the answer to all that we want in life. Just. Keep. Praying. Need more grace? More holiness? Running low on patience? Wisdom? Trust? Need to grow (or is it shrink?) in humility? The Lord will answer in His time. This parable more than any other shows the power of prayer - consistent, persistent prayer. He will answer if we keep asking. And asking.

5. The Parable of the Lost Sheep Luke 15

The parables of the lost sheep, coin and the prodigal are all presented together in the fifteenth chapter of Luke. They all are to teach us how happy the Lord is to go after us when we have gone astray, and Isaiah 53:6 tells us that would be all of us. Sometimes we are like the prodigal, and we come to our senses and can see our need to change and come to Him. It is the rumbling pit in the prodigal's stomach that makes him think of home and see how foolish he has been. Surely we all love the story of the prodigal. But I love even more the classic picture of Our Lord as the Good Shepherd rescuing the sheep stuck in the thicket. Sometimes we are like that sheep. We get ourselves into a perilous position and we are just stuck and we can't do a thing about it on our own. It's not always sin - it can be sadness or depression or lukewarmness or laziness or procrastination or busyness or fear or whatever that gets us stuck on the side of that cliff, away from Him. And even then, He comes to rescue us. He leaves all the others and comes to find us when we are lost. He comes right to the edge of the cliff, right up to the mess of the tangle of the thicket and He sets the lost sheep on His shoulders with great joy. All we have to do is let Him snatch us up and gently carry us home.

And those, dear friends, are my favorite parables. I'm looking forward to reading more of yours. If you are reading this, please consider yourself tagged. Wouldn't it be wonderful to find favorite parables on every blog you visit this week?!

When in Blogland...

...do as the Bloggers do.

Everyone is doing this meme of trivia so...

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE ? I like to think St. Anne.
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?  When we got home from the Emergency Room on Epiphany and saw the posts and emails from all the blogging friends who had been praying for Eliza.
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Not particularly.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? I don’t eat meat for lunch. Or any other meal ;-).
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?  Sure thing. I have seven here on earth.
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Well sure, but would I have to share my teacup with that other me?
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? I do but I wish I didn’t. 
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?  No.
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?  No thank you. I don’t like heights.
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Cream of wheat or oatmeal with lots of brown sugar on top.
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?  My shoes never wear ties.
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? I used to think I was until I had two teenaged boys who are much stronger.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Vanilla (with chocolate sprinkles on top).
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? What they are wearing and what their eyes look like.
15. RED OR PINK? Pink, but red is growing on me in my old age.
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF?  I am not naturally neat or organized.
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? The very saintly pastor who just retired from the church where we attend daily Mass.
18. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? An olive green skirt and black boots.
19. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Cranberry ‘pie’ with whipped cream on top and a cup of tea. Thank you to Kristen for advising us to stock up on cranberries while they were available.
20. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Eliza watching Rachel while she eats her ice cream.
21. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? A fresh box of sixty-four.
22. FAVORITE SMELLS? Chrism is the most wonderful smell in the world. I also like sandalwood, almond extract, a clean baby just washed with Baby Magic, fresh laundry just brought in from outside, and especially my husband.
23. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My husband.
24. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? My children sword fighting or shooting arrows or unicycling. Does that count?
25. HAIR COLOR? Brown.
26. EYE COLOR? Brown.
27. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?            Can’t see a thing without ‘em.
28. FAVORITE FOOD? Anything freshly baked and a cup of tea.
29. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings, please.
30. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Narnia
31. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?  A green floral shirt to match my skirt and a cream colored lacey vintage cardigan.
32. SUMMER OR WINTER?  I prefer spring and autumn.
33. HUGS OR KISSES? Both.
34. FAVORITE DESSERT? Fresh raspberry pie with vanilla ice cream.
35. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? The Hobbit.
36. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Eliza’s Pediatric Cardiology Group
37. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT? Don’t watch TV.
38. FAVORITE SOUNDS?  My children making music, Eliza giggling, Kateri’s sweet high-pitched toddler voice, my husband’s deep smooth one.
39. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?  How about Bach or Brahms or Beethoven? Or Mozart or Chopin or Liszt?
40. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?  Canada.
41. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? God gives everyone special talents. 
42. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Connecticut.

I tip my hat to all my fellow bloggers for sharing this meme!

I would like to thank Meredith of Sweetness and Light for naming me for the Emmanuel Award.

This award was created by Marie and Ginny from View From the Pews as follows:

"In a consumer society it is a blessing to read blogs where the writer's main focus is God. Where they express their love for their faith so visibly and joyfully.In a cynical world it is refreshing to see so many blogs which are generous, giving, who care about others and demonstrate what being a Christian is about, loving God and loving our neighbor.Through their faith, lives and spirituality, they bring God to us, they in essence make God visible, 'God with us.'"

I had never visited this particular blog, but popping over ther just now I came across this beautiful and most timely post. Do go and read this personal testimony of Our Lady's love.

I would like to pass this award on to Mary Ellen and all of the wonderful contributors to the beautiful Christmas blog, O Night Divine. If you haven't already been visiting there regularly, do grab a cup of tea and head on over for a visit. There are essays on celebrating the season, inspirations for feast days, book lists, craft ideas, and all sorts of links to make your season full of Light. Thank you to Mary Ellen and her blogging elves for organizing and maintaining this most resourceful site.

Thanks!

Thank you so much to the dear readers who nominated me!  It was a delightful surprise. I was nominated in the Best Crafts, Plans and Projects Category

Happy voting!