Small successes XXXVIII

1. Had a "date night" with my hubby!  We did a bunch of little chores around the house that never get done because they are tough to do with the kids around, and then had a nice dinner at a little Mediterranean restaurant we hadn't been to in years.  And we settled on some new lamps for which we'd been shopping around/talking about getting for quite some time.

2.  Making progress on the batch of diapers I'm working on sewing for my little guy and a friend's son as well (we're doing some 'my sewing for her knitting' trade).  Maybe posting about my progress will actually motivate me to (ahem) finish them...

3. Rearranged our toys a bit, rotated some stuff in and out (I always keep a fair amount packed away), moved some stuff from upstairs down and some stuff from downstairs up.  It's amazing how just a few changes like that will pique my children's interest in a toy that had been completely ignored or forgotten.

Head on over to Chocolate For Your Brain to share in Small Successes each week!

Our playsilks

I have been reading about playsilks recently and thought they would be something our children would really enjoy.  I like toys like this...where their purpose is up to your creativity...toys that are timeless and fun for all ages (and don't take up a lot of space to boot)!  Toys that don't have flashing lights and sounds and batteries (but that's a whole different rant...)  Anyways, I was disappointed, however, that a 35" x 35" square of playsilk ran anywhere between $12-$15.  Um, really?  I figured I could do better than that at the fabric store and I was right.  For around $4 a piece we now have four playsilks in beautiful colors (green, blue, pink and yellow) that are 36" x 54".  If you'd like to make some of your own it is very easy!  I just bought a yard each of various colors of chiffon.  To keep the edges from fraying/raveling I used Fray Check.  That's right, NO SEWING!!  That stuff has some fumes though, so use it in a well ventilated area.  Anyways, the kids have been having a blast with these and I love to see all the uses they find for them (tents, clothing, "water", playmats for their toys, aids for peek-a-boo, tails, trampoline covers, something to chase...it's been endless)!  It really is amazing how entertaining a simple "toy" like this can be.  Along those lines, for some great thoughts regarding toy selection, organization and management, check out this post.  Here are some pictures of the children with our silks.  Look very closely at the top left one...

Lectio Divina

As I mentioned in my May book report, I have been reading some about Lectio Divina (thanks entirely to the Holy Spirit's promptings) and wow.  What a blessing.  Good, good stuff.  Why am I just discovering this now instead of 10-15 years ago??  But alas, here I am.  I am currently reading Conversing with God in Scripture by Stephen J. Binz and wanted to takes the opportunity to share some of the treasures from this book on my blog.

We should always keep in mind that lectio is not just ordinary reading.  It might best be described as listening deeply - what Benedict (sixth century) described in his community rule as hearing "with the ear of our hearts."  In lectio, God speaks and I listen.

On our part, this listening requires that we do our best to receive God's word with as little prejudgment as possible, as if we were hearing it for the first time.  Though we may find it difficult to step out of our "comfort zone," we cannot listen fully to God if we think we already know what the text is going to tell us.  We don't want to reduce divine communication to the narrow confines of our own ideas and expectations.  Rather, lectio requires that we create a space within us for for the new wisdom and understanding God wants to give us through the sacred page.

I thought that second paragraph was so great.  I can't tell you how many times I am reading the daily readings or some other Scripture-containing item, and see that it is a verse/passage with which I am very familiar so I just gloss over it because "heaven knows I've heard this before."  So that part really hit home.  Continuing...

This kind of hearing requires fully attentive reading.  However, one of the consequences of this information age is that our culture is drowned in written words.  We tend to read in a hurry, curious to learn more and more. But lectio cannot be hasty.  We must read for understanding and assimilation.  Ambrose (fourth century) reached out to our modern era when he wrote, "We should read not in agitation, but in calm; not hurriedly, but slowly, a few words at a time, pausing in attentive reflection....Then the reader will experience their ability to enkindle the ardor of prayer."

This was really great for me as well.  Again, I can totally identify with the whole "read with haste" bit as often, when it comes to articles, blogs etc., I am of the mindset that I need to consume as much as I can in as little time possible.  It's almost like some kind of race or contest or something.  And of course, this has inevitably carried over into my Spiritual reading.  This was a nice reminder to just. slow. down.  Across the board.  Moving on... 

In order to instill in ourselves the sense that reading Scripture is a deep listening, we might consider returning to the practice of reading it aloud.  In the ancient world, where books were precious and rare, people listened to their sacred texts by hearing them read aloud.  This type of hearing required full attention and careful listening.  But even when reading was done in private, reading aloud was the usual practice.  The words were always pronounced vocally; thus, the text was seen with the eyes and heard with the ear.  Both the sight and the sound of the words allowed for easier comprehension and memorization.  This traditional practice is continued in synagogues today, as Jewish believers not only read their Scriptures but pronounce them aloud and often move their bodies rhythmically as they take them to heart.

I loved the idea of reading Scripture aloud.  So simple, yet very profound.  I think I read that previous paragraph 2-3 times to really let it sink in.  There is something about the senses...the more of them we engage the easier it is to internalize, to assimilate. 

For us as well as for our ancestors in the faith, the eyes and ears and even the mind are not the word's final destination.  We listen to the sacred text so that the words of Scripture might finally reside in our hearts.  There we are capable of reflecting on their insights, messages, and inspirations in a way that can radically transform our lives.

I'll end there.  I'm probably bordering on plagiarizing, but I just had to share.  I linked the book on Amazon, but I picked it up at our local Catholic bookstore (I like to support them when I can).  It has been a real insight and a huge blessing to me.  I always wanted to read the Bible, but never really knew how or where to start.  So I just didn't.  Lame, I know.  I used the excuse that I read the daily readings and the canticles and Psalms and such in Christian Prayer, so that was enough.  And while that is certainly good, don't get me wrong, there is so much more out there and I am just now slowly discovering that.  Faith is such a journey, that's for sure, and I have found Conversing with God in Scripture to be incredibly helpful for me on this leg of my journey.  I pray that the profound beauty of God's Word in the Scriptures may radically transform all our lives as we journey towards our one Eternal Goal.

Monthly update - June 2011

GEMMA - 3yrs 5 months

• Gemma's favorite phrase of late is, "I have an idea!"  And oh, does she have some doozy's!
• she weighs 32 lbs
• we have been reading lots of new books and really enjoying the summer reading program at our local library
• when she draws people they have bodies now, instead of just legs and arms on a head!!
• strong-willed.  have I mentioned before her strong will?
• she is getting very creative and imaginative when she plays.  LOVE it! 
• she finally seems to be over her 3-4 month long bout with separation anxiety!

KOLBE - 17 months

• he is walking!!!!
• weighs 24 lbs
• the only word he really says is "ball-ball".  and he says it a lot.  all the world is a ball for this one.
• he is starting to say a few animal sounds which is cute
• he still moans and groans when he is falling asleep.  he has done this since the night he was born.  and he gets louder the older he gets.  i wonder if he will grow out of this?
• his favorite game of late is to throw anything he can get his hands on down our stairs.  this may very well be the death of my sanity.
• he is (finally) napping better.  sometimes he'll take a whole nap in his bed, sometimes he'll need resettled on the floor (which he does great with).  either way, he ends up napping 2 or so hours a day (give or take) which has been nice.   nights are still not great, but that will come.  i've been trying to work on resettling him on the floor either in his room or ours at night now as well (rather than just having him sleep with us).  it will take some discipline (on my part...it's so much easier just to bring him to bed, but he likes to kick aaron out) but i think it will be a good transition tool.  with teething and everything i'm just not up for night-weaning.  gemma night-weaned on her own around the age he is now, so we'll just see what the next few months bring.  WHEW!  now you know.

That's about it I guess.  Not too much exciting going on the past month I guess.  We've all been enjoying trips to the zoo (finally renewed our membership!) and time in the kiddie-pool on the deck.  We get some nice afternoon shade so that's been a really great setup.  And that's all for now! 

Gemma - 3yrs 5 months and Kolbe - 17 months

Extreme-angler...GEMMA

Extreme-angler Gemma

Extreme-angler Jeremy Wade

Aaron and I enjoy watching the show River Monsters, featuring "extreme angler" Jeremy Wade.  Honestly, I never thought I'd enjoy something like this, but I really do and I've learned a lot about fish, fishing and various cultures around the world.  Anyways, we have decided we need to start our own series called Pond Monsters featuring Gemma!  She loves fishing and talks about it and plays fishing often.  It's amazing the household items she has turned into a rod and reel.  We all did some fishing a couple weekends ago and Gemma reeled in a green sun-fish on our second cast.  It was one of only a few fish we caught that afternoon.  She's a good little fisherman.  ;-D

He walks!

I think somehow I forgot to mention that Kolbe is now walking more than he crawls!!  He started walking to get around the last weekend in May (after taking his first steps way back on April 30), and hasn't turned back since.  He's quite proficient now, and we're all enjoying his new-found ability!

Walking to the park all by himself -- SO PROUD!!!!

Laundry day

Gemma and Kolbe have started "helping" with their laundry on laundry day.  I'm not sure how this got started, but usually when I do their wash Gemma will bring out the stepstool and Kolbe will sit on the floor and hand the laundry up to her to throw it in the washer.  It's very cute...and actually helpful, even if it does take them 20 minutes to load the washer!!

Whiney Wednesday XXI

1.  Kolbe has outgrown (by several pounds) the weight-limit (and the height limit for that matter) on his "bucket" car-seat.  Not that we ever used the bucket feature (yay baby-wearing), but this was my great rear-facing option.  Our Britax Boulevard actually will fit rear-facing in  my '99 Accord, but because it's a '99 it doesn't have LATCH and I just can't get a tight rear-facing fit with the seat-belt no matter what I try (any tips? I haven't given up yet...)  So forward-facing he went.  He looks very sweet and grown-up, and it does make things easier; but for safety reasons I really would prefer him to still be rear-facing.  Blah.

2.  Dear face: You are not a teenager anymore.  Please quit breaking out as if you were.

3.  Dear recent hailstorm:  While I am appreciative that you didn't destroy our roof like your cousin did last fall (and I am very thankful for all the rain that came with you), I am rather irate that my dear annuals - that were finally starting to grow and look pretty - are now beat to a bloody-pulp. 

Join in the whines each Wednesday, check here with Simplemama for the rules and info!

Elephant and Piggie

We have really been enjoying the summer reading program at our library.  We've read so many new books over the past few weeks, it's just been great!  One of the series' we've discovered (thanks to a recommendation from a friend) is the Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems.  These books are great!  Gemma loves them...the stories are short and humorous, the illustrations are simple yet clever and cute, and I think they're really a lot of fun to read aloud.  The other day she was asking for the "broken car" book, and I just could not figure out what she was talking about.  Finally she said, "come on mom, you know, the one with the pig and the elephant."  Aha.  "Trunk."  Apparently she only associates the word trunk with the car.  And thus, I Broke My Trunk translated into "The Broken Car Book" in her head.  HA!  I love the way her mind works.  If you have a preschooler or early reader, check these books out.  Definitely a must-read!

Pentecost

As we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Spirit and the birthday of the Church, I wanted to share this beautiful prayer for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit:

Holy Spirit, Lord of Light, 

from Your clear celestial height,

Your pure beaming radiance give.
 

Come, O Father of the Poor,

come with treasures that endure,

come, O Light of all that live.

You of all Consolers best,

and the soul's delightsome Guest,

do refreshing Peace bestow.

You in toil are Comfort sweet,

pleasant Coolness in the heat,

Solace in the midst of woe.

Light immortal, Light Divine,

visit now this heart of mine,

and my inmost being fill.

If You take Your grace away,

nothing pure in men will stay,

all their good is turned to ill.

Heal our wounds and strength renew,

on our dryness pour Your Dew,

wash the stains of guilt away.

Bend the stubborn heart and will,

melt the frozen, warm the chill,

guide the steps that go astray.

Thou, on those who ever more

You confess and You adore,

in your Sevenfold Gifts descend.

Give them Comfort when they die.

Give them Life with You on high,

give them Joys that never end.

Small successes XXXVII

1.  My hubby had a continuing education seminar this past weekend.  It was in town, thankfully, but we didn't see much of him.  And the kids and I survived! And had a very nice weekend!!  It's amazing the difference my attitude can make...

2. I've been making some good progress in the photo-organization department.

3.  FINALLY!  After having my hair chopped entirely too short on a whim last May...it is longer!!  I can put it up in a ponytail or messy bun without strands falling out.  I can curl it and style it how I want.  I have successfully grown my bangs longer as well.  YAY!!  Silly I know, but this makes me absurdly glad.

Share small successes each Thursday over at Chocolate For Your Brain!

Funniest story ever

We were at my husband's cousin's wedding a couple weekends ago.  It was held at a downtown hotel in a big city.  There were a number of events going on at this hotel, one of which was some sort of sci-fi convention.  One of Aaron's uncles was riding the elevator and the people on the elevator with him curiously asked him, "which character are you?"

His response...

I am a Catholic Dominican priest.

Seriously, it just doesn't get much funnier than that.  I'm sure he had a good chuckle over this with his brother priests upon returning to the Dominican House of Studies. 

Recent reads (May 2011)

Time for God by Jacques Philippe

This was a good book on making time for prayer.  It was not the most practical in application for a mother with young children, but I still gleaned from it some really good information and knowledge in regards to cultivating a life of prayer.  Definitely worthwhile.

Interior Freedom by Jacques Philippe

This book was very good.  It discussed the interior freedom we all possess, reflected on the fact that no one can take this away, all in light of the theological virtues faith, hope and love.  This book was down to earth, practical and inspiring for me.  I really like Jacques Philippe and would highly recommend any of his books (Searching For and Maintaining Peace was the first one I read) to someone looking for a relatively short (and easy!), spiritually edifying read.

Cinderella Ate My Daughter by Peggy Orenstein

I will first off admit I did not finish this book.  I didn't even read most of it.  That being said, I really do agree with Orenstein's conclusions regarding today's girlie-girl culture (princesses, make-up and spa parties for seven-year-olds, rampant commercialism and materialism, sexiness vs. healthy sexuality, licensed items and the like...basically it's a quite comprehensive analysis of what we're teaching our young girls as a society these days and the long-term repercussions thereof).  The topics she addresses really run the gamut, and I like and agree with much of what she has to say.  I just fundamentally disagree with the way she reaches her conclusions.  I like to think I view feminism in light of appropriate, God-given femininity, where-as Orenstein's (who I believe is actually Jewish) feminist views seem much more secular, for lack of a better term.  I was discussing my thoughts on the whole thing with my husband one evening, and a few days later ran across this article on Oprah by Rachel Balducci.  Her assessment of Oprah really echoes mine of Orenstein.  While a lot of what she says is true, she's missing that Absolute Truth.  The lens through which she looks at things is not the God-given lens through which I have learned to (strive to) filter my life.  This book (what I read of it) was good in that it challenged me to look deeper into why I feel the way I do about all things girl, especially as a mother of a daughter.  If you're looking for something faith-filled that offers a more Christ-like perspective on the topic, this is definitely not your book.  Still, it provided some interesting food for thought.  And now you know.  (You can check out Peggy's blog here if you'd like to find out a little more.)

A Catholic Woman's Book of Days by Amy Welborn

I've been trying to read this book daily since I got it around the first of the year.  That doesn't always happen, but it's on my end-table and lately I've been picking it up more days than not.  I really like it.  It is nothing incredibly "deep" or earth-shattering, but sometimes that's OK.  Sometimes that's nice.  Each day has a verse or two of Scripture (sometimes correlating to a feast or saint, other times the scriptures appear to be selected at random) and then a brief paragraph or two meditation/reflection on the selected Scripture.  Very short.  But nice.  I can pick it up here or there, meditate on the Word a bit, and read a Catholic mother's perspective on the particular passage.  Anymore I am trying to really focus on Scripture as part of my reading and prayer time, and this helps with that immensely.  I've also been reading a bit about Lectio Divina, and Welborn's book has been helpful in giving me good passages of Scripture on which to mediate, pray and talk with God.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I mentioned last month that I was going to give some JPII a try.  Well, I failed.  Miserably.  I read the first 3-4 chapters of Crossing the Threshold of Hope, and am currently skimming through Love and Responsibility.  Right now though, I just can't do it.  I do not have the brain power to read JPII.  I love what he has to say, and I have love LOVED anything I've read about his writings (by another author).  I feel incredibly grateful for the number of years he was our Holy Father, and am immensely humbled by and in awe of his intellect.  Right now though, my poor mommy-brain just can't handle the real deal.  Maybe someday... 

Currently I am reading Mountains of Spices and Conversing with God in Scripture.  Hopefully I'll be back to review those and others here in a month or so!  Happy reading, everyone!

The first swim of 2011

The kids had their first swim in our deck pool a couple weeks ago.  It was a balmy 63 degrees outside.  Gemma beegggggggged to go "swooming"  (as she calls it) so I finally gave in (thinking that she would learn her lesson).  Would you believe they played in the water for the better part of an hour?!  Crazy kids!

Here they are in their suits.  I found them at Target, and I totally love them.  (The suits not the kids.  I mean, I love my kids too, but I didn't get them at Target...)  Anyways, I like these suits because they are more modest than anything I've been able to find up to this point, plus they require about 1/4 the sunscreen they would need if wearing a "regular" suit.  CUTIES!

Small successes XXXVI

1. Found a pretty decent solution to the shoe issue we had going on by our mudroom door!

2.  Got Gemma signed up for the Summer Reading Program at our library.  I'm pretty excited about this and so is she.

3. Got a good deal on the Seventh Generation Diapers my son wears overnight.  I love my cloth during the day but just can't seem to make it work overnight once they hit around 9 months.  With 20% off these ended up being just shy of $.31 per dipe.  

Share more successes over at Chocolate For Your Brain.