Simple Woman Monday

 

What I'm hearing...

I'm doing computer work and making up lists this morning -- something I do every Monday. I wake up slowly, get my coffee and a small breakfast and park here on the couch with my lap desk and laptop and notebooks and pens and pretend I'm making good use of my time while I wake up. So, the house is quiet -- as it usually is these days. Dan is working away in the library, but every top of the hour, his phone alarm goes off (with that cello theme from Master and Commander), and he comes out and prays the St. Andrew novena with me and Dawsey -- plus the St. Michael prayer -- to combat the evil in our country and in our world and to keep that loser at bay in our own little bubble, too -- and we add the prayer of the Miraculous Medal, (O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee), for the intention of our government, in general, that Godly people end up in charge.

 So, we just did that. And then I sat down and turned on a Youtube channel that I'm enjoying at the moment, with pretty piano background music behind the gentle voice of a young German fellow who explores and video documents old abandoned homes throughout Europe. You wouldn't believe some of the castles and manors that people just walked away from, leaving behind antiques, photos, Catholic imagery, personal belongings, whole lives...! It's crazy. And very mysterious. Great background noise with a bit of interest while I'm list making. (Weirdly entitled Bros of Decay, if you want to check it out.)

Outside my window...

Burning leaves. One of the things that living in
the country allows us to do. Makes this job easier.

It's a bright sunny day, though cold. In the 30s I think. We had a work party on Saturday (Michelle's gang, Cathy and Louis, and our good boarder friends, Anne Ng and AJ Martinez) to finally clean up the fall leaves (as much as that is possible!) and put away the pots and statues and patio furniture. So, everything looks neat and tidy and tucked away for winter now, which is satisfying!

What I'm wearing...

Colorful maxi skirt over cozy leggings (kinda my winter uniform), maroon thermal Henley and a dark green sweater. 

What 'm thinking...

Looking forward a couple weeks to the Ordinations that will take place on the 13th. Two of our particular friend seminarians, Rev.Mr. Carlos Zapata and Rev.Mr. Dennis McGuire along with Austrian seminarian (with whom we are acquainted), Rev.Mr. Joseph Weisensteiner (sp?). We are arranging to hold a celebration here on Sunday and I'm thinking ahead to how deeply I can clean house before then and what makes sense to do this remotely (like working on my kitchen cabinets and spiderwebby window casements) and also imagineering what to do with floral arrangements for the altar and lining up who would like to help with the arranging. 

What I'm reading...

Spiritual Letters of Abbot Chapman, a book recommended by a favorite priest years ago that I just happened upon in my Amazon Wishlist and had forgotten about! 

Also, still reading The Divided Mind by Dr. John Sarno. Slow going, because I need all my brain to follow him. And, well, you know... My brain and I wave at each other through windows occasionally...

And I have a Georgette Heyer compilation of  short stories that I've been dipping into for pure enjoyment, Pistols for Two.

Some Picture Thoughts for Today...

Our Advent Wreath this year.

And this thought. Every little tiny thing done for the love of God.
And hopefully this little tiny corner of the universe has merit,
but the main influence for the good of the world that I count
upon is our children, my greatest accomplishment, my purpose.

St. Andrew and Advent

 

November 30th -- The Feast of St. Andrew*

St. Andrew could well be called the thoughtful Apostle.  Judging by the accounts of him in the Gospels, he seems to have been especially tuned in to the people and events around him.   Remember? Upon first meeting Jesus on the banks of the Jordan, his first thought was to run and find his brother, Peter, and drag him back to introduce him to the Messiah.  It was Andrew who called Our Lord's attention to the boy with the loaves and fishes that ended up feeding 5,000 hungry followers in the desert.

 After the  death and resurrection of Christ, having received the multitude graces of Pentecost, Andrew traveled, preaching and converting thousands through Scythia and Greece, then, after many years, won the martyr's crown in 60 A.D., following his Master to the cross in Achaia.  His death by crucifixion (on an "X" shaped cross) was of the 'common' sort, of that time -- long and agonizing, intended to be a cautionary device against the early blossoming of Christianity. As it happens, this martyrdom proved to be the opposite (as was often the case). Brave and faithful to the end, St. Andrew lingered for two excruciating long days -- but as he slowly died he continued to preach to the people gathered near him; in his agony, his final thoughts were of other souls that he might still save.  His charity was a deeply ingrained habit of life that he practiced to the moment of his death.

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So, Saint Andrew. You can't help but like the man he seemed to be: spontaneous, loving, thoughtful, loyal, faithful, humble, courageous...  But, how is it that the Church, in her wisdom chose this apostle for one of the very first meditations of the Advent season, the very first season of the entire liturgical year? I'm sure there are many reasons, and I expect The Liturgical Year would be an obvious place to find out for sure, but I've been pondering, myself, on the life of St. Andrew today, and this is what I think:

My Dad taught us that the first rule of a good life is that it pays to pay attention. St. Andrew was a master at this. He watched. He pondered. He noticed what was going on around him, really noticed. Then, he acted on what he saw. And it's clear in the Gospels how he instinctively reacted. Like he would throughout his life as an apostle, the first thing Andrew did was: run to Jesus. After first hearing Our Lord speak, Andrew immediately ran to Him and introduced himself. Then he looked to see who else he could drag over to meet Jesus, and his eyes and heart immediately found his brother, Peter, of course, who he quite literally dragged over to Jesus!  Think of it! With this simple and spontaneous act of love, he changed the world. 

 Later in the Gospels, we see that famous problem facing the disciples at the Sermon on the Mount. Andrew's sharp eyes and quick mind spied a possible solution and, true to form, what did he do, but run to Jesus -- who then turned Andrew's suggestion into a miracle that fed 5,000 people. All his life, traveling the world, Andrew continued to lead people to Jesus, converting thousands to the Faith. Even hanging on the cross, with his dying breath, he was bringing people to Jesus, and he's doing the same work in heaven today!

As we go about our extra busy lives this Advent season, it seems the Church points us toward St. Andrew to help us focus on what is truly important, no matter the problem, no matter the circumstances: run first to Jesus. Every day, every pleasure, every pain, every worry, start with Him. During Advent, the rolling out of a brand new liturgical year, St. Andrew reminds us to start with Jesus. Not Santa. Not politics. Not gift lists. Jesus. 

Dear St. Andrew, be our guide, accompany our souls on the journey through Advent; pray for us, please, and lead us close to the manger in Bethlehem this Christmas! Lend us your keen eyes during this holy season to help us pay better attention to our loved ones, our neighbors, our friends -- the mailman, the kid delivering our pizza, the clerk at Walmart, everyone! -- and help us increase our prayers, our patience, and our charity to help lead them also to Jesus.  

Novena Prayer of St. Andrew

(to be recited 15x a day from the feast of St. Andrew until Christmas)

Blessed be the hour and the moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Blessed Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold.  At that hour, vouchsafe, O my God, to hear my prayer, and grant my petitions, through merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.  Amen.

Real Quick Link for St. Andrew's Feast Day!

 A tutorial and PDF prayer card and instructions for for the St. Andrew's Novena chaplet below!

Ye Olde Annual Advent Checklist

 NOVEMBER 29th

* If you haven't already set up your Advent Wreath, it's time to scramble, because today is the day! The first Sunday of Advent, 2020 . 

Here's one place to find and print out the Advent prayers and have handy to pray every new Sunday in the season of preparation.

NOVEMBER 30th

* On the Feast of St. Andrew, which is on a Monday this year, we begin:

 The Christmas Novena

The most common Christmas novenas
in a nutshell. 

“Hail and blessed be the hour and the moment when the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold.

In that hour vouchsafe, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my petitions,
through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen"

We'll repeat this prayer 15 times a day until Christmas for our various special intentions, ending on Christmas Eve. It doesn't matter how it's done; you can say all fifteen repetitions at once, or split them up during the day, whichever is easiest for you. We tend to do a little of both methods, intending to split them up at mealtimes, five prayers three times a day -- but often enough, missing out and having to bunch them all together at bedtime prayers.  It doesn't matter, though, so long as you get them all in there!  Many many intentions, personal, and general to include in our Christmas novena this year so we don't want to blow it!

A beautiful "click and print" card to post somewhere obvious where we won't forget!

NOVEMBER 30th -- DECEMBER 25th
(Ongoing in our family)

* During the first week of Advent (beginning Monday!), we'll start building our Nativity Scene ! The process will continue all the way up until Christmas.  Though it's a different kind of discipline doing it for ourselves instead of cooperating with the children to build (a highlight every year in our clan!), Dan and I will still try to observe the traditional manner and order of constructing ,adding the traditional prayers and ceremonies you can find at the link.

Idea to make the creche especially interesting for Littles:  Find little critters that don't necessarily belong to the Nativity set, but which match well enough to be believable, and have the children add only one critter a day, then make a bigger production out of the placing of the "official" animals (the sheep, dogs, donkey, and cow) and shepherds on the 18th, and the Holy Family and Shepherds when everyone is together the week before Christmas.  Perhaps have Father over to bless the Creche!

Here's Dominic with one of our big Nativity Scenes. 
Before he married and started his own family, he was  the Creche
master here. Now he has one in his own home!

DECEMBER 1st

* In addition to the Christmas Novena, we'll start the daily Christmas Crib Prayers on Tuesday, the 1st.

We found copies of this sweet little devotion when our big grown up boys were tots and prayed it for years until we lost the prayers during some move or another.  But we found it again a couple years ago, reprinted by the lovely lady at House and Hold ! We were all so pleased; we love this simple devotion. It's especially good for families with little ones.

* See below for the entire read-out.

Note to self: Make a copy to put on the fridge to be mindful of it, myself, throughout every day -- even though we don't have children home any more, I can join my prayers to my grandchildren's now! And Anna (a CMD postulant and kindergarten teacher) is doing these with her little ones this Advent, too.


DECEMBER 5th

* On Saturday, begin Novena to St. Lucy (see below)! St. Lucy is the patroness of: the blind or those with eye problems, martyrs, epidemics, salesmen, throat infections and writers!

DECEMBER 6th

*  On the second Sunday of Advent this year, we come to the Feast of St. Nicholas! Catholics all over the world celebrate with goodies in the children's shoes in the morning (but no nibbling on any of it this year until we get back from morning Mass!) and  then a big batch of crockpot peppermint mocha in the afternoon.

(Note: Order holy cards and patron saint medals from Aquinas and More now, in order to get them in time to include in the children's shoes for St. Nick's Day!)

December 8th

* The Eighth of December,  which falls on Tuesday, is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. (And our grandson, Gavin's, birthday, lucky guy!) It's not a Holy Day of Obligation in the United States, but is a great feast of the Blessed Mother, and we wouldn't miss greeting her on this day for anything!  Some ideas for the day: get flowers to decorate our Blessed Mother's shrine at home and/or at church, and along with Mass that day, decorate and light a Mary Candle:

"The Mary candle: Some families have the custom of decorating a Christ candle with a blue veil on December 8th, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. On this great feast, others place a candle with a blue ribbon before a statue or picture of the Blessed Virgin, whose “yes” to God enabled our Lord’s coming at Christmas. The candle is lit during meal times to serve as a delightful reminder of Mary’s eager expectation of the “Light of the World.” It can also serve as a reminder to each family member to keep their own light of grace burning as a preparation for Christ’s coming." 
(From CERC)


(Note: Get Hobby Lobby coupon to offset cost of a nice pillar candle.)

DECEMBER 10th

* The feast of Our Lady of Loreto. This feast commemorates the miraculous translation of Our Blessed Mother's home in Nazareth to Loreto, Italy, almost 1300 years after her assumption into heaven.  Read the wondrous story here!  In honor of Our Blessed Mother who is the glory of home life, and the perfect example of holy homemaking, we'll be giving the house some good "spit and polish" today.  We'll also take special care to dust and care for all of our holy images: statues, crucifixes, and hanging pictures. And we'll pray the Litany of Loreto in addition to our rosary in Our Lady's honor.

DECEMBER 13th

* On Sunday, the thirteenth of December and the third Sunday of Advent, we get to celebrate The Feast of St. Lucy, with all of its special traditions .  The novena to St. Lucy may be begun on Monday, December 5th, if you like, to finish on her feast day.

Novena to St. Lucy

St. Lucy, Your beautiful name signifies light.  By the light of faith which God bestowed upon you, preserve and increase this light in my soul, so that I may avoid evil, be zealous in the performance of good works, and abhor nothing so much as the blindness and the darkness of evil and of sin.  By your intercession with God, obtain for me perfect vision for my bodily eyes and the grace to use them for God's greater honor and glory and the salvation of all men.  St. Lucy, virgin and martyr, hear my prayers and obtain my petitions.  Amen.

(Note: For Spiritual reading for the day, try Lucia, Saint of Light)

* We never did actually make our oldest daughter bring everyone breakfast while balancing lit candles on her head. Not that they wouldn't have done it, mind you!  But I'd be a nervous wreck.  (I'm still a little traumatized by a certain daughter's First Holy Communion Day eleven years ago, when she caught her hair on fire) We chiefly celebrated this day by making Lucia Bread a couple of years and once or twice we let our oldest resident daughter be the one to decorate and hang up the Mistletoe on this day. (History and customs of  mistletoe, here.)

December 16th, 18th, and 19th

* Advent Embertide comes around again, on Wednesday, Friday in the third week of Advent (December December 16th, 18th, and 19th). Adults between the ages of 21 and 59 must fast on all three days, abstain completely on Friday (as usual), and partially abstain on Wednesday and Saturday. Ember days are a particular time to pray for our priests, and are traditionally set aside as well, for prayers for safety from natural disaster, and expecting mothers. These are also days when the Church remembers the poor and suffering.  This would be a good time to make Christmas donations to the needy! 

DECEMBER 16th

* Today, Ember Wednesday, we can begin the Christmas Novena to finish on Christmas Eve. To finish on Christmas day, start on December 17th. There are several novenas from which to choose:  One here, which is lengthy, involves the entire family and corresponds with the O Antiphons; and another one here, which is shorter and less complicated. (And certainly many more upon a google search!)

DECEMBER 18th

  
* This day marks the feast of the Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, exactly an octave until the birth of Our Lord.   Originating as early as the 7th century and widely celebrated in the Spanish Church, this feast was called the feast of "St. Maria de la O," because on this day the clerics in the choir after Vespers used to utter a loud and protracted "O," to express the longing of the universe for the coming of the Redeemer.  As a mother, myself, I love this day for contemplating  Mary, the Mother of God, herself: her faith, her hope, her love -- the Christ Child kicking in her womb -- the wonder and joy of it. The expectation!  Mothers are blessed to understand and empathize in a special way.

Today, as we have since the beginning of the month, we pray our St. Andrew Novena, and meditate on our little Christmas Crib devotion. If we choose to do a nine day novena for Christmas, we will have started that already, too -- But now we ramp things up a bit more even as we approach the big day, adding the 

O Antiphons to our bedtime prayers.  

(Incidentally, today is also the day we traditionally introduced the sheep, shepherds, cows and donkey to the stable in our Nativity scene -- a big day for the children.)

 O Antiphons
* To elucidate: we begin the  O Antiphons on Friday, the 18th. These are the prayers taken from the Breviary's Vespers during the last octave before the Birth of the Savior, wherein each "stanza" begins with "O." It's this fact that names the O Antiphons. They are correctly prayed in the evening and can also be sung.

* A Spiritual Christmas Crib

The following directions show you how to build a spiritual crib in your heart for Christ. Use it to put Christ into your Christmas in a real, living way.

Start on December 1. Read the thought indicated about Christ's first crib. 

Practice it during the day. 

Do this daily during December and make your heart a worthy crib for Christ on Christmas Day.

DEC. 1 - THE STABLE

Frequently during the day offer your heart to the little Infant Jesus. Ask Him to make it His home.

--Sweet Jesus, take my heart and make it meek and pure.

DEC. 2 - THE ROOF

See that the roof of the stable is in good condition, so that the Infant Jesus is protected from rain and snow. This you will do by carefully avoiding every uncharitable remark.

--Jesus, teach me to love my neighbor as myself.

DEC. 3 - CREVICES

Carefully stop every crevice in the walls of the stable, so that the wind and cold may not enter there. Guard your senses against temptations. Guard especially your ears against sinful conversations.

--Jesus, help me to keep temptations out of my heart.

DEC. 4 - COBWEBS

Clean the cobwebs from your spiritual crib. Diligently remove from your heart every inordinate desire of being praised. Renew this intention at least three times today.

--My Jesus, I want to please You in all I do today.

DEC. 5 - FENCE

Build a fence about the crib of your heart by keeping a strict watch over your eyes, especially at prayer.

--Sweet Jesus, I long to see You.

DEC. 6 - MANGER

Fix the best and warmest corner of your heart for the manger of Jesus. You will do so by abstaining from what you like most in the line of comfort and amusement.

--Dear Mother Mary, use these sacrifices to prepare my heart for Jesus in Holy Communion.

DEC. 7 - HAY

Supply the manger of your heart with hay, by overcoming all feelings of pride, anger or envy.

--Jesus, teach me to know and correct my greatest sins.

DEC. 8 - SOFT STRAW

Also provide your manger with soft straw by performing little acts of mortification; for instance, bear the cold without complaints; or sit and stand erect.

--Dear Jesus, Who suffered so much for me, let me suffer for love of You.

DEC. 9 - SWADDLING CLOTHES

Prepare these for the Divine Infant by folding your hands when you pray, and praying slowly and thoughtfully.

--Jesus, help me love you more and more.

DEC. 10 - BLANKETS

Provide the manger of your crib with soft warm blankets. Avoid harsh and angry words; be kind and gentle to all.

--Jesus, help me to be meek and humble like You.

DEC. 11 - FUEL

Bring fuel to the crib of Jesus. Give up your own will; obey your superiors cheerfully and promptly.

--Jesus, help me do Your will in all things.

DEC. 12 - WATER

Bring fresh, clean water to the crib. Avoid every untruthful word and every deceitful act.

--Dearest Mary, obtain for me true contrition for my sins.

DEC. 13 - PROVISIONS

Bring a supply of food to the crib. Deprive yourself of some food at mealtime or candy as a treat.

--Jesus, be my strength and nourishment.

DEC. 14 - LIGHT

See that the crib has sufficient light. Be neat and orderly about your person; keep everything in its place in your room.

--Jesus, be the life and light of my soul.

DEC. 15 - FIRE

Take care to have the crib of your heart warmed by a cozy fire. Be grateful to God for the love He has shown us in becoming man; behave with grateful respect towards your parents and relatives.

--Jesus, how can I return Your love; how can I show my gratitude to You?

DEC. 16 - THE OX

Lead the ox to the crib. Obey cheerfully without making excuses and without asking "why."

--I will obey for love of You, Jesus.

DEC. 17 - THE DONKEY

Bring the donkey to the crib. Offer to the Divine Infant your bodily strength; use it in the service of others.

--Jesus, accept my service of love; I offer it for those who do not love You.

DEC. 18 - GIFTS

Gather some presents for the Divine Infant and His Blessed Mother. Give alms for the poor and say an extra decade of the rosary.

--Come, Jesus, to accept my gifts and to take possession of my heart.

DEC. 19 - LAMBS

Strive to bring some little lambs, meek and patient. Do not murmur or complain.

--Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Thine.

DEC. 20 - SHEPHERDS

Invite the shepherds to pay homage to our newborn King. Imitate their watchfulness; stress in your speech and thoughts the idea that Christmas is important because Jesus will be born again in you.

--Jesus, teach me to love You above all things.

DEC. 21 - THE KEY

Provide the stable with a key to keep out thieves. Exclude from your heart every sinful thought, every rash judgment.

-- Dear Jesus, close my heart to all that hurts You.

DEC. 22 - ANGELS

Invite the angels to adore God with you. Cheerfully obey the inspirations of your guardian angel and of your conscience.

--Holy Guardian Angel, never let me forget that you are with me always.

DEC. 23 - ST. JOSEPH

Accompany Saint Joseph from door to door. Learn from him silently and patiently to bear refusals and disappointments. Open wide your heart and beg him to enter with the Blessed Virgin Mary.

--Saint Joseph, help me to prepare for a worthy Christmas Communion.

DEC. 24 - THE BLESSED VIRGIN

Go meet your Blessed Mother. Lead her to the manger of your heart and beg her to lay the Divine Infant in it. Shorten your chats and telephone conversations and spend more time today thinking of Jesus and Mary and Joseph.

--Come, dear Jesus, Come; my heart belongs to You."

**From: Devotions in Preparation for the Coming of the Christchild, and at the Crib, from Christmas to Purification" by Rev. Frederic Nelson, published by Marian House, Powers Lake, ND 58773

Thanksgiving 2020 in One Photo

Eyes on the Pies

Ella, Claudia, and Daria
 (Chocolate orange; chocolate mint; chocolate cheesecake; NY apple; pumpkin roll
and homemade pumpkin ice cream.)

 

2-fers

Two Things That Made Me Smile Today

 1 

This past June during Sr. Antonia's family visit, she joined her three youngest siblings and me on an eastern Iowa adventure. We had a good look around a couple of the cute little Mississippi towns on the way to our chief destination: the trails and caves at Maquoketa State Park (which we highly recommend as a go-to hike!), and of course, whenever we saw a historic old church, we stopped in  for a look around. Our Catholic heritage is just as rich here as it is in Europe; I think a lot of folks don't realize! Some of the great architecture of the world can be found in the tiniest towns in midwest America! I can't remember the name of this particular church, I'm afraid, though, or what town we found it in (I'll have to ask the kids if they remember) -- but it had stellar acoustics. Here you can hear Sister (soprano) with Gabriel (bass), Anna (alto), and William (tenor) joining their voices to the vibrations of over a century of praise and adoration sent heavenward in this beautiful church. 

I was looking for something else today and stumbled upon it -- and it made a dreary gray day here much brighter!

2

This photo of our beautiful daughter-in-law, Kevin's wife, Ina, and their first child, our granddaughter, Sophia Philomena. We haven't had the opportunity to go over to Germany yet to see our little sweetie in person (thanks to the absurdity of the plandemic), but we do get frequent photos over the internet and are able to be in almost constant contact. Say what you want about modern technology -- this is a major plus in its favor!  

Note the photo itself is totally grandmother smile material -- but Kevin sent it with this caption, which made it even better: "When Mom thinks you look really cute, but you've looked really cute for the past 10 minutes..." (Heehee!) Love these beautiful girls! 

Simple Woman Monday

What I'm hearing... The Bridge on the River Kwai. William Holden's voice, but most memorable, the theme song. You know the one? It's going to be stuck in my head now. (Not a bad thing. My Dad used to whistle that tune pretty regularly, and Dad memories are good memories.)

Outside my window...  It snowed this morning! Just a smidge. But then it sleeted and rained, so now it's a slushy, muddy mess. Good reason for a nice cuppa tea and an old movie.

What I'm wearing... Gray wool skirt, striped  green turtleneck, with warm navy blue socks, and gray slippers.

                                                                        What I'm thinking... I thought I'd gotten all my errands run today, including shopping for Thanksgiving groceries, and I was patting myself on the back that I wasn't going to have to go out any more this week -- but I blew it. I took too long pulling together and boxing up one of William's birthday presents (He'll be 15 on Thanksgiving Day !), so I'm going to have to go to the post office to mail it tomorrow morning. Ugh. (whiiiiine) I don't want to have to go out again...

Used to be, I wouldn't cringe at the idea of going out in the world to rub elbows with my fellow citizens. I like people! But elbow rubbing is akin to an act of attempted murder these days, and since I refuse to cover my face with a stupid mask (it's not movie star quality face, of courses, but it's a good face, doggonit -- and it hurts me right in the liberty to cover it up) -- going shopping requires an intestinal fortitude heretofore necessary only for such things as storming castles or jumping out of airplanes.  But I'm an old war-scarred veteran Momma, and I can scrape up the courage for it, you bet! I'd be ashamed not to! Knowing that our forefathers fought and died for our liberty while all I'm doing is smiling down virtue signaling Karens in Walmart, I can do no less than refuse to wear a useless facemask, the only purpose of which is population control. Not that big a deal for me; being the mother of ten children, standing out in a crowd is nothing new -- but, gee whiz, maybe I'm just getting old or something? But bravery is exhausting! 

What I'm learning... I'm reading The Divided Mind by Dr. John Sarno, a fascinating read. I highly recommend it for understanding the mind-spirit-body connection that so affects our health -- and how conventional medicine too often only succeeds in more thoroughly ruining our health with its pharmaceuticals, discounting of the mind's power over the body. It's a little more complicated than just mind over body -- for instance our nutrition is so poor in the 21st century, and our environment filled with toxins -- but, the state of our mind and our emotions also unquestionably influences the health of our bodies. Add the state of the soul into the variables, too, and it's easy to understand why the general state of health throughout the world is so terrible.  

What I'm hoping... Almost all my hopes and prayers are going to Donald Trump and his defense team these days. So much of the future of everyone I love and everything I care about will be shaped by the outcome of this election. God help us.

What I'm working on... Got some paint supplies today to paint the old green cabinet. It's not going to be green any more. There may be an uprising. But, hey. I live here and I have to look at the darn thing. I think it'll look nice with black chalk paint, rubbed to look antique -- with new antiqued fittings and a rebuilt top with dark walnut stain. Hopefully it'll be finished by Christmas break -- just in time for the fam to come home and be chagrinned about it.

What I'm planning... Thanksgiving dinner. We're having squabs this year, just for something different, since we just did a big Thanksgiving dinner when everyone was here for Cathy and Louis's reception in October. We three girls (Cathy, Michelle, and I) are going through our Pintrest  boards for fun and different side dishes and desserts, too! Should be tons of fun!

Some picture thoughts for today...

Me when I have to run an errand and I don't wanna...
(Actually our little princess grandbaby, Claudia, who was a
grumpy  St.Barbara for All Saints Day.)

On the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary -- a Special One for Boarder Parents

 “She existed in the Divine Mind as an Eternal Thought before there were any mothers. She is the Mother of mothers—she is the world’s first love.”

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

It is by long-held tradition of the Church that we know the Blessed Mother was offered by St. Anne and St. Joachim to the Temple to be brought up and educated away from the world by men and women dedicated to serving God. In the Eastern Church, celebration of this feast goes back to the 6th century, in the Western Church, the 15th -- and we don't doubt it's true. St. Anne and St. Joachim, long barren, would have well realized that Mary's birth was a singular miracle. Angels foretold it to them! It stands to reason that being holy, themselves, they would give her to the trust of the Temple, but the sacrifice of sending away their one and only child at so tender an age is hard to comprehend. It tears at the heart, doesn't it? 

But it was the right thing to do. Sentimentality has very little place in good parenting. The work of real love is hard. Witness the Supreme Act of Love, the Crucifixion and death of Our Lord, the grandson of Anne and Joachim. A million little sacrifices made up (make up) the one Great Sacrifice, and it started in a material way with the parents of the Mother of God releasing their only child back to God. There is no question Anne and Joachim missed their baby girl every minute of every day she wasn't with them, and even shed private tears over her absence, but I guarantee they didn't regret their decision.

Parents of Boarder Kids know about this. God bless all our Boarder Family friends for the sacrifices they make! St. Anne and St. Joachim are our patron saints, and this is our feast day.

Mother of Divine Grace, help us to learn from the example of your holy parents. Bless us, St. Anne and St. Joachim, on the Feast of the Presentation. Help us to carry on with fortitude when the sacrifices we make for our children's good is just plain hard.  Amen.

Random Questions

 List two things that are more easily done than said. (No, I didn't mix them up.)

1. Origami. You just have to show how it's done. In the same way you have to demonstrate how to do an inside-out ponytail or a bun, which are hair origami.
2. Also Pie Crusts and bread dough. You can read the instructions, but you really just need to do it a few times or watch someone do it, before you know how the dough should look and feel to be properly done.

1. 
   When was the last time you worked really hard to achieve something?
2. Painting the medallion figure of The Sacred Heart for Fr. P's ordination vestments was truly
   challenging. I'd never painted with oils before -- and hadn't painted anything but furniture since I was a teenager, so I had to study up, pray a lot, and put a lot of hours into it. It was far from perfect -- heaven knows, Fr. P could have done so much better -- but I really truly did my best and it turned out better than I very much feared it would!
3. How many all nighters have you pulled?
4. Oh, wow. hundreds. Or, well, maybe that's an exaggeration, but, really: a lot. When I worked on the college paper, we pulled all-nighters fairly often, getting the paper out. Then I become a mother. Ten times.  'Nough said. 
5. If humans didn't evolve to laugh or smile, how would we express our happiness instead? There are small children I know who jump up and down, flapping their hands when they're happy and that's a fairly natural and effective expression of excitement, I think -- but it would be exhausting when you got to be my age. 
6. How many romantic "things" or "flings" have you had?
   
7.                                                        One fling -- 33 years long. 
8. What is your paradise?
9. The closest thing to earthly paradise to me right now is finishing up a good list of chores and just hanging out in my cozy home with Dan (working in the library, maybe), my little dog, Dawsey, lying on the couch by my feet, a glass of good wine at my elbow, a good book to read, and nothing on my calendar hanging over my head. (Which is a description of right now. I don't take it for granted!)
10. 
    

Just sayin'. Praying for the legal teams that are working so hard to prove the evidence
of fraud in this presidential election. We have to be sure that the heavenly team is
also working with us through our prayers for truth and honor in our government. And
the defeat of socialism, not just in America, but throughout the world. 

 

Another Blast from the Past

Spelling Test Friday, November, 2017

Me: "OK, William. Number 10. Surgery. I have a scar from when I had surgery on my knee."

Him: "Did they take the banjo out?"

* Just a sample of the random, head-scratching, do-I-laugh-or-smack-him humor around here.

#homeschoolingforthecomedy##thanxforthememories#

There is an awful lot of wonderful benefit from being able to utilize a good Traditional Catholic School (we are certainly advocates when the situation is right!), but I wouldn't trade our years of home schooling -- as hard as they were sometimes -- for anything on earth! I miss it.

Simple Woman Monday

What I'm hearing... Nothing! Except the washing machine running in the mudroom. The parakeet just chirped. Dawsey is snoozing on the top of the couch, but isn't snoring like he sometimes does. It's very quiet around here these days with no children in the house any more. I very often will turn on a book-on-tape while I do housework, just for the company of voices. (How pathetic is that?) Dan is in the Library at work -- but I try not to bother him too much and he is a total "nose-to-the-grindstone" kind of guy. He comes out for potty breaks and that's about it! Good thing I'm not the one whose supporting income depends on being able to work from home all day! I am so easily distracted! Comes from juggling 10 or 12 balls, 24-7-365 for so many years, I'm sure! I've had so little opportunity to focus on one single thing for any length of time that I find now I don't know how to do it! 

Outside my window...  The last few leaves on the oak tree by the road are hanging on for dear life. After the cold snap a couple weeks ago, the wind, and the smattering of snow, all the color has gone out of the cheeks of Autumn, the leaves still left are exhausted, everything is wan and beige. All the corners of the property are filled with piles of crackly leaves -- from the Walnut tree, the giant cottonwood, the maples and oaks. You can trace the pattern of the wind by where the big piles ended up. I'm wondering  whether, if I wait long enough, it'll all get blown about again by disparate winds and redistribute -- like, out in the forest or down the road. ==but, sigh== I doubt it. We're going to have to get up a work-party to do some raking. We can probably lure them in with a promise of a weenie and s'more roast at the end.  

What I'm wearing... Long grey flannel skirt over leggings, grey thermal shirt under hunter green wool cardigan. Can you tell I woke up chilled? 

What I'm thinking... I've got to get Dawsey to the vet this week for his annual vet-check -- and then to the groomer. I think of that first because he's right in front of me, of course, but more importantly, perhaps, I have to get dentist visits rolling for Gabe and William in Idaho -- then get Gabe set up with an orthodontist. Maybe the week after Thanksgiving. Cruel and unusual punishment to have braces applied right before Turkey and Pie Day!

What I'm learning... I think I'm becoming more and more at peace with this new station in life, sans kids most of the time -- though it is still pretty weird. It's all simpler in that there's literally less that I need to do, but it's less simple in that I now have to figure out what I should be doing -- never had to think about that before! Thankfully, I do get to see Michelle's children at least once a week, and we still host the Sunday Afternoon Club here, so we keep in touch with what's going on with the teenage boarder girls from MDA (They are a delight!),and we're not complete hermits, but it's definitely a much quieter life these days. Maybe a God mandate, I'm learninging more and more, and a gift, because I think I need the peace and quiet. So many years of mental and physical stress (plus Lymes) has taken such a toll, I've come to understand that the only way to unroll the cumulative effect is to treat it with as much true rest as possible -- plus good nutrition, and as little conflict as can be managed. (Having gotten rid of FB should help that!) After over a year of trying the rest cure (to lesser and greater success), I know I'm the healthier for it, in general. My old carcass has had a chance to start healing itself. If I had a house full of kids still, I wouldn't have a chance at it, though. So it's all good. I'm growing accustomed to the gentle routine. And spending so much more time with Dan! That's the best thing.

What I'm hoping... To get all my Christmas shopping finished before the second week of Advent!

What I'm working on... Still working on study guides. An Enid Dinnis compilation of short stories; Enid Dinnis's The Anchorhold, and a stack of books for the AZ Sisters to use next year. 

What I'm planning... Trying to figure out what the plan is for Thanksgiving this year -- and who all is coming. Not sure if we'll have any Boarder kids, though I've heard rumors we may. Wondering if the kids will want to come over for the traditional Pie Day on Wednesday. Things that used to be a given, aren't any more!

Some picture thoughts for today...

Looking east at snow-covered-mountain clouds the other day.

Looking west, back at our homestead, from the Pigeon Creek tree line you see in the above photo.