time

Lately I’ve been thinking oodles about time. With schedules and plans and changing daily rhythms swirling around my noggin, I’ve been giving screen time an awful lot of thought. The kids’ screen time is minimal and I’m not against movie watching here and there or game playing in moderation. I’m really thinking of myself.

This smartphone for starts. What a blessing it has been, quick info and access to emails is great. I’ve deleted FB from it so that hard drug is gone. But still I find myself randomly picking it up. I’m checking something, I’m sending a picture really quickly, I’m replying to a text, I’m…….what oh, you need me?

It feels really silly if I think about it as if I’m watching myself from the outside…..I’m staring blindly, tapping the glowing black thing. Honestly, it is fun. It’s like a mini-momentary vacation. But is it an addiction or an honest to goodness use of a tool? I have to check myself.

During school days I plan to check my emails in the morning after prayers and before school time. Then at 9, it goes away. I’ll answer only calls from my husband during learning times. Photos? Now there’s a hitch and maybe you can suggest a solution. I do enjoy photographing our days. Maybe I can snap them and then set the camera back on the high shelf. Then do uploading and sharing later during computer/phone time?

Those times will be after morning prayers, then briefly during rest time after lunch. And then again during free time in the afternoon. After that, not until the kids are asleep. (Obviously, I may need to access a map or some info regarding schooling etc. During other times, but hopefully rarely)

That should be plenty!!

Is there anything you do to fight the technology binging and remain present to those around you? I’d love to hear your suggestions.

daybook

Listening :: The radio is playing Tchaicovsky…a perfect accompaniment for dinner-making…that and the ever-present kid sounds inside and out.

Pondering :: strategies for smooth learning days. Including new books, interesting things for the little ones to do and encouraging joy by being joyful myself.

Creating :: dresses for the girls and myself for my sister’s wedding at the end of next month. I’m using the washi dress pattern for myself with a nice fabric and nursing modifications, I’m anxious to get it done and wear it!

Reading :: Sally Clarkson’s Educating the Wholehearted Child and Light in the Darkness, an amazing treasure of a book by Sergei Fudel, a Russian layman, concerning our faith in practicality. Beautiful.

Planning :: Learning, activity schedules and meals for September.  I’m also rethinking chore distributions for the kiddos as well as fine tuning my own list. I love new beginnings, don’t you?

Wearing :: a blue cotton scoop neck shirt and grey cozy pants, bare feet and a bun. Geesh, these always make me seem like a slob. I DO get ready for the day :) We swam all day with friends and  this just sounded nice to wear after my shower.

Thankful for :: The friends we swam with. Such sweet kids and lovely mamas. Oh and a washer and dryer.  Our washer died last week and the repairman told us it wasn’t worth his or our time. My first thought was….”woo hoo!” because the dryer had to be run twice per load and I’ve had my eye on a fancy max capacity washer. But Craigslist it was due to the combo of wanting to use cash only on appliances, if possible, and Plew budget reapportioning due to near future financial goals….think car ;)

So, we had to forego the fancy but hey, it washes and that makes me happy and thankful!

The photos are from the backyard this afternoon as I made my rounds.

be patient with life

Today was a warm, tired, stuffy day. I sewed while they played. Then the washing machine died mid-spin cycle and kids bugged each other and…me, ahem.

We navigated it all fine. Not the best of days….messy but redemptive. There was nothing apologies, snacks and a ride in the AC couldn’t fix.

A wise man recently said, “be patient with life”. It was followed by the truth that prayerful, careful moments add up to a prayer life of many years…..I’m working on patience, prayerful and careful. Thank God I have these trying opportunities.

“Strong faith in a man’s heart both requires and produces prayer, and a prayer life of many years produces love.
The goal of our life is nothing other than cleansing our heart to such an extent that it is able to sing with joy.
Thus, prayer of the heart leads to joy of the heart.
Nothing is difficult for a joyful person, because he has love.”
   – Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica

early to rise

All last year I bemoaned the fact that even before my feet hit the floor in the morning, the work began. I don’t mind the work or the little ones making it for me, I just wanted a bit of quiet before the launch into coffee, breakfast, chores, diapers….you know.

Last August I swore I would rise before everyone, say my prayers quietly and enjoy the time. I did for a few weeks then I realized….the work would follow me! If I woke up surely one or all would join me! I decided I might as well sleep in.

That worked. But the desire for a peace-filled beginning, a silent start haunted me.

My answer….a walk. And so my alarm sounded earlier today and I strapped in the one who inevitably awoke and off we went.

It was Anna and the birds and me, greeting the sun as it peeked over the hills.

I prayed my morning rule while she munched on something. We soaked it all in and we were filled.

Hopefully I can keep the new habit. Three mornings a week seems sustainable.

refreshing spaces

For some reason the tidy-up bug hit me today. Maybe I’m feeling anxious for the spaces to be used in new ways. Most had fallen into disorder after the summer’s fun. I’m slowly working at it. Tomorrow is a laundry day so less will get done. There’s still the closet in the office which holds craft, art, sewing supplies and school resources. Then the boys closet….oh dear.

I’m glad I took these pictures to remind myself of the ordered state because it won’t last. That’s just how it goes.

Fighting entropy one day at a time!

What are you sprucing up?

summer sand

Today we had a long lazy day at the beach. Around ten families joined us, popping in and out throughout the day. Some stayed for a bonfire and dads joined in for s’mores, happy to hold their damp, sandy kiddos after long days of work.

For the kids it was heaven. For the mamas, much needed chatting and sitting. It was altogether lovely.

Have I ever mentioned that I love community?

encouragement

After a lovely email from a lovely girl, I decided to pick up the “pen” again. Her simple words spoke of encouragement and that got me thinking. We women, wives, mothers, friends, we need encouragement and inspiration. The online world can be a community of encouragement both giving and receiving. So that’s my goal, to be a more generous encourager.

So may your week be bright, thoughtful and intentional :)

Good night.

sunday ritual: dudes & meals

Most Sunday evenings our backyard is transformed from the Kids’ mud-wagon-old boxes wonderland to the Dudes’ prayer-fire pit-beer-adoirandak chair-prayer-spiritual reading den. I love it.  These guys read aloud and discuss piercing matters of Life in Christ, they share their struggles and toss a few back with their brothers under the expanding cosmos.  What a blessed thing.  Community.  I love it.

I try my best not to listen to their conversations….sometimes quiet hushed mumbles seeking wisdom and counsel, sometimes too-loud gaffaws. I catch a few. Enough to understand why they keep coming back week after week regardless of Superbowl, rain, birthdays.

And so I putter around wiping, tidying, school and meal planning, washing, folding, nursing, typing, reading.  Whatever needs to be done amidst the silent house and the koinonia on the patio.

Some fruits of tonight’s planning:

Monday

B – berry muffins, milk

L- egg salad sands, smoothie

D- ginger honey pork, quinoa, cauliflower, broccoli

Tuesday

B – toast & eggs

L- quesadillas, fruit

D- WW pasta, sausage, marinara, salad

Wednesday

B – Oatmeal, fruit

L – bean burritos, fruit

D – split pea soup, salad (Catachesis of the Good Shepherd)

Thursday

B – yogurt & museli

L – leftovers

D – bbq chicken sandwiches, roasted potatoes, salad (Homeschool moms’ mtg.)

Friday

B – Oatmeal, fruit

L – PB&Honey, fruit, snacks (Parkday)

D – Roasted veggies and a treat (Family Fun Night)

far from a homestead

I am a reluctant gardener…..Aaron waters what I plant and then later neglect. He has a far greener thumb and better caretaking habits. My gardening dreams are often too large and idealistic. My perspective has to change especially with the young children and our life in general. I need to be very realistic.  Just plant whatever I know we will eat and just go for it. The amazing Farmer’s Market in town was a pricey field trip today……realization: be more fruitful with my time and the space we have.

Shirtless babies. Spring is near…..thankfully they cry when they need to be fed.

 

Sadly, Emelia’s chicken “Bubble” was taken down by our dog, Jack.  He played with it to death. She was sad but ok.  Every once in a while she asks for a new chick.  None of the chickens are laying anymore and thoughts of starting a new flock are tempting.  The small coop I built two years ago is wobbly and worn now.  So work would have to be done…..we’ll see.

I love the ideas of urban homesteading…even if it’s just learning and incorporating a few new skills every year.  I love being that much more knowledgable and productive.  Even more than that, I like the idea.  Yet another area where practicality and ideals must marry….peppered with diligence and care.  I have much to learn.

let every breath

The weekend was restful and fruitful.  Drizzles mingled with clear skies.  Toilet scrubbing, laundry and food preparations melded with  wrestling, mess-making, cuddling and music.  Then of course Vespers, Liturgy, visiting with church family and family.

Psalm 150 (One of my favorites…sung during the Matins Service)

Praise ye God in His saints, praise Him in the firmament of His power.
Praise Him for His mighty acts, praise Him according to the multitude of His greatness.
Praise Him with the sound of trumpet, praise Him with the psaltery and harp.
Praise Him with timbrel and dance, praise him with strings and flute.
Praise Him with tuneful cymbals, praise Him with cymbals of jubilation.
Let every breath praise the Lord.