{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you’re inspired to do the same, visit Soulemama to leave a link to your ‘moment’ in the comments for all to find and see.
{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you’re inspired to do the same, visit Soulemama to leave a link to your ‘moment’ in the comments for all to find and see.
Outside my window…night has fallen. The days are so long now, sometimes it seems as if darkness will never come. Thank goodness for those black-out blinds…I don’t know how I’d get two little boys to sleep in the summer without them.
I am thinking…about all that’s good in my life. And there are many, many things…too many to list, so many to thank God for.
I am thankful for…life. Life within. Life just born. Life preparing for birth. Life that plays and bounces, tells stories, uses imagination. Life that loves.
My new little nephew, Gavin. Welcome little one!
From the learning rooms…everything is being orchestrated from my perch upon the couch. We are almost done with our first year of Sonlight (4/5) and are continuing our journey through RightStart Math.
From the kitchen…today was Grandma Nury’s lentils. Everyone licked their bowl clean. And William repeatedly let me know that “Grandma Nury’s cornbread is mmm, good.”
I am wearing…these days my choices are limited. There are only a few shirts left that completely cover the baby belly. Today it’s a tank top and knit capris. Not so stylish, but certainly comfortable.
I am creating…still working on next year’s curriculum. Everything is ordered and on its way…now to just organize all the bits and pieces.
I am reading…Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne.
I am hearing…the whir of the fan.
Around the house…Daxson is picking up my slack while I follow the doctor’s orders. Bed rest is no picnic. I find myself looking around thinking of a thousand things that need to be done and frustrated that I can’t do them. It certainly is a very humbling experience for a control freak…having to ask for help and being at the mercy of others. I suspect God has a plan here.
One of my favorite things…the imagination of a little boy. Today the box that arrived in the mail became the spaceship, the packing paper was the spacesuit…suddenly we were all transported to Jupiter where Joseph kindly informed us, “You’re getting wet…it’s raining on Jupiter right now.”
Here is a picture I thought worth sharing…
Everybody got a ride on Grandpa’s motorcycle…even the baby in utero!
Often as adults things lose their awe. We are no longer struck by big events or big stadiums or big crowds. Things like baseball games have lost their magic. Not so for little boys. Early in May we took Joseph and William to their first baseball game. Grandma Nury, Grandpa Larry, and Noah met us there. I figured we’d make it through a few innings and have two antsy little boys on our hands…turns out a baseball game holds more magic than I remembered…we made it almost through the entire game…and in the end it was me that was tired and ready to go…not them! Seeing the ball game through their eyes was extremely rewarding…the real baseball players, the seats that pop up and down, the mascot running around, the crowd cheering, the music, even the scoreboard…everything was fascinating to these two boys. The entire event captivated them. Now everything William sees is a potential bat and he continually asks Joseph to tell him the story about the time we went to the baseball game…seems going to the baseball field was a huge hit!
What’s your name? “2.” No, not how old are you. Your name. (a look of ah-ha) “William.”
Very good. How old are you? “William.” No, sweetie, this time I want to know how old you are. How many years you are. (another look of ah-ha) “2.”
What’s your favorite color? “Black.” (he’s signing it as he says it)
What’s your favorite book? “Black books.” Okay.
What’s your favorite sport? “Baseball. They hit the ball with the baseball bat.” (he swings his arms like a bat as he says it)
What’s your favorite thing to eat? “Bread. Bread. Bread.” (frantically signing it as well) Bread? Got it.
What’s your favorite fruit? “Blackberries.”
What’s your favorite vegetable? “Raspberries.” That’s not a vegetable. Do you like vegetables? “No.”
What’s your favorite thing to do? “Go outside.”
What do you like to do outside? “Play in the mud.” 100% boy.
What’s your name: (with a look like “really, Mom?”) “Joseph”
How old are you? “Ummmm, 3.” (He’s so ready to say 4, but still has a month to go!)
What’s your favorite color? “That’s easy, it’s red.”
What’s your favorite book? “Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes” (by Mem Fox)
What’s your favorite thing to do? “Work on my laptop.” Hmm, I’m surprised that’s what you chose. It seems like there are so many other things that you love to do. What about going outside? Isn’t that your favorite thing to do? “No, that’s my favorite part of the day.” Ohhhh.
So, what’s your favorite part of the day? (with an “are you serious?” look) “Going outside.”
What’s your favorite thing to eat? “Vegetables.” Really? What kind of vegetables are your favorite? “Peas and carrots. Mmmm.”
What’s your favorite fruit? “Well, my favorite color is red, BUT my favorite fruit is blueberries.”
What’s your favorite sport? “Football because I’m a football player.”
Where’s your favorite place to go? “The Aquarium. I love to see the fish.”
Who’s your best friend? “Oh, William, of course.”
What do you want to be when you grow up? “A knight.”
Do you have any goals? Anything you’d like to accomplish soon? “Oh, yes. I’d like to learn to really throw a ball and I’d like to go pick some flowers. Oh and I plan to grow a rock garden.” A rock garden? “Yes, a rock garden. You see I already planted a rock over there in that bucket of water. I better go check on it and see if it’s grown at all.” (runs over to the bucket and pulls out the rock) “Yes, I think it’s growing a little.” (hmm, maybe we need a science lesson on living vs nonliving things?)
Is there anything you’d like to add to this interview? Any little detail about yourself that you want to always remember about being 3 years old? “Yes. I’d like to say that I really like to play with William. Now I’ve got to go watch my rock grow.”
Outside my window…it’s breezy and sunny. It’s also incredibly hot. It’s only April and today the temperature is expected to be 95.
I am reflecting…on a thought my doctor said to me today. “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
I am thankful for…an Easter that was filled with life and joy.
From the learning rooms…we’re just plugging through the remainder of our Sonlight plans, working on RightStart Math, and continuing with our phonics lessons.
From the kitchen…Easter Sunday leftovers. Nothing like the traditional Easter meal…ham, green bean casserole and sweet potatoes. I ate so much of those green beans last night that I was sure I was going to burst. And can you believe it? My picky little eater loved the ham.
I am wearing…jean shorts and a t-shirt.
I am creating…a list. There is always a list in progress. One that shows what needs to be done. It’s my thoughts, organized on paper, ready to be crossed off. I always, always make a list. Sometimes I actually remember to look at the list.
I am still smiling…as I remember listening to Joseph and William play last week. I could tell Joseph was getting very frustrated with William and suddenly I heard him exclaim, “Lord, give me patience!”
I am reading….Parenting with Grace by Gregory Popcak.
I am hearing…William shouting, “Get me Daddy!” and Joseph calling, “Find me Daddy!” And I am wondering how little boys thrive without a daddy around to chase them and I am thankful that Daxson is here for that. Day after day. I am blessed to have a husband who does not have to travel for his job.
Around the house…there are always things to be done. Diapers need to be washed; laundry needs to be done; the floors could use a good sweeping. And here I am. Sitting outside while the kids play happily. All those things inside can wait. Trust me, they’ll still be there when we are done playing.
One of my favorite things…watching Joseph’s eyes get big when he feels the baby inside me kick.
I am at home today. I am not at Church. I am not participating in the Good Friday solemn liturgy or the Stations of the Cross. I am home. I am tending to two little energetic boys while trying to keep my feet up and the pressure off of my sciatic nerve. I am sad that I cannot be there but I am grateful just that I am here. Here. Here. Here. I am here because Jesus died for me and for my sins. Not only am I here, but hopefully someday I will be there. There. There. There. In the Kingdom of Heaven and all because of the sacrifice that God’s only Son made for me. For my sins. How can I possibly let this day pass without showing how incredibly grateful I am? How can I possibly not spend this day sharing tradition and faith with my precious little ones so that they, too, become aware of the awesome sacrifice that Jesus made for us? I can’t. And so we are carrying on the best way we can in our little domestic church, listening to the Divine Mercy Chaplet (over and over again), praying the Stations in our own way, reenacting the events of Holy Week with felt, all while reflecting on the power of love and sacrifice, hoping that in these little acts, we are showing Jesus how incredibly grateful we truly are.
{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you’re inspired to do the same, visit Soulemama to leave a link to your ‘moment’ in the comments for all to find and see.
Well, my little one, you just recently turned 2! You are a running, jabbering, busy little two year old. I look at you, so full of energy, so full of spunk, so full of life and I am happy. Happy that you are here and growing and loving life as only a two year old can do. I love you, my littlest one. Happy, happy birthday!
With Every Intention 