Holy Saturday: Sacred Silence

A favorite poem by a favorite author:

Ready for Silence

Madeleine L’Engle

Then hear now the silence
He comes in the silence
in silence he enters
the womb of the bearer
in silence he goes to
the realm of the shadows
redeeming and shriving
in silence he moves from
the grave cloths, the dark tomb
in silence he rises
ascends to the glory
leaving his promise
leaving his comfort
leaving his silence

So come now, Lord Jesus
Come in your silence
breaking our noising
laughter of panic
breaking this earth’s time
breaking us breaking us
quickly Lord Jesus
make no long tarrying

When will you come
and how will you come
and will we be ready
for silence
your silence

Theme Thursday: Celebration

Linking up again with Cari of Clan Donaldson for Theme Thursday

In honor of this week's theme Celebration: Take one part fun activity putting eggs in the tree with G-ma, add some late March snow and you get ...







Easter Tree









Spring Break Snow: How the first day of her Spring break was celebrated!

Please head to Clan Donaldson for more (and better) photos on this weeks theme.

Figuring out Bloglovin :)
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Choosing joy: A review

This book makes for wonderful reading.  Dan Lord uses his life experience, and those of others including his father and sister as well as the Saints to write on the joy of the Christian life that takes into account the reality of life.  The book starts with the story of the authors life as a singer/songwriter for a touring rock group and his eventually reversion and his exploration of the fruits of Holy Spirit, focusing on Joy.

What I most liked about this book was the tone of the writing and suggestions given. The writing is engaging and easy to follow.  This is not at all a light hearted look at the daily life of a Catholic but rather obstacles are brought up and subjects such as pain and suffering are explored with common objections acknowledged and addressed. The examples and advice lead up to how you trust God’s will and experience great 'joy'.  The chapters and sections within are well paced to allow for pausing and thinking about points raised.

While the core of the book is about how to invite Christian Joy into your life and live according, Dan Lord does in a sense complete the arc and with the example of his father's passing how Christian Joy aids in a peaceful death.  I highly recommend this book to anyone wishing to deepening their relationship with God.

This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Choosing Joy. The Catholic Company is the best resource for all your seasonal needs such as First Communion gifts as well as ideas and gifts for the special papal Year of Faith.

What I Wore Sunday #3

Dr Daddy is on duty today so I hoped a fun skirt and favorite old boots would help my confidence as I headed out to church with the 3 littles; mostly worked.

Details
Sweater: Christopher & Banks
Skirt: Old Navy
Tights: F21
Boots: Ancient, no longer remember where

Please join the fun over at Fine Linen and Purple

And in honored Patton tradition:
Lisbeth: C+
Liam: C-
Caitlin: A

5 minute friday: Remember

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.

2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

OK, are you ready? Please give us your best five minutes on:

Remember
Start:
  Remember when you had that away rotation on a reservation in Arizona and I helped drive you out except I didn't know how to drive stick so I learned along the way; and we went to the Grand Canyon and walking up to the rim were disappointed that it was so overcast but it didn't matter because once we got there the Canyon was immense, awesome, totally taking our breath away.   

That night it snowed, and so the next morning we all but had the national park to ourselves, and we wandered around pueblos and walked over lava rocks like kids in a playground finally climbing up that rise just to find the top too socked in with fog for any view but then on the walk down we hit a point below the clouds where it all came into view; the savannah like grass and rocks just below us and in the distance the painted desert ~ and you, who had gone first to show the way down smiling back up me.

STOP.

Please visit Lisa Jo for more 5 minute friday

Five Favorites: Take 1

Joining Hallie of the Moxie Wife to celebrate some of my favorite things:

1. Slings: Giving thanks for slings, babywearing & Caitlin willingness to sleep or hang-out so I can have two hands to get things done with the older two kids and around the house.

Caitlin at 3 weeks

2. Brother Francis CD, We have for a little while now been enjoying a couple of the Brother Francis DVDs and now a CD of the music has been released ~ good music and a chance to reinforce lessons learned: win-win

3. Iced Coffee: I know that there are a gazillion recipes on Pinterest and elsewhere (which I may investigate come summer) but at the moment for me there is nothing better than driving thru a McD or Dunkin drive-thru and picking up one, a little bit of Mommy Heaven.

4. Baby Smiles!!!

5.  Forever 21 tights, As I have a milestone birthday coming up involving a leading 4 I clearly left my twenties awhile ago but listening and learning from you lovely ladies who post to WIWS I have discovered F21 to be an excellent resources for tights.

Tummy time

Now that Caitlin is 2 months we started doing 'Tummy Time'

Big Brother showing her the ropes

"Come on lift your head"

Verdict so far: I don't mind hangout like this but I'm not lifting my head!

Theme Thursday: Green

Joining the lovely Cari of Clan Donaldson

March around these parts is often a tug-a-war between winter & spring.  One is fairly confident that Spring will get the win but when; looking good for March this year.

Taken last Friday ~ perhaps the last snow of this winter

Please head over the Clan Donaldson for others take on this week's theme.

Caitlin at 2 months

Caitlin at 2 months:

• Continues to be a calm & happy monkey
• Has a great social smile and coos now
• No longer cries at diaper changes but still is not a fan of baths
• Wears size 1 diapers
• Starting to sleep longer at night
• Adds to the 'fun' around dinnertime as this is still when she most wants to cluster feed and will voice her displeasure at being put down when Mommy makes dinner for everyone else.
• Spittier than I remember either of her big siblings, though that might be momnesia
• Eyes are still blue 
• Angry cry sounds like a cat
• Has started to 'fight' the swaddle so has for the last couple of nights been swaddled with one arm free
• Is getting better and better at holding her head up, and is developing truncal tone ~ but only for so long

• Seems less and less like a newborn and more like a baby everyday; definitely more sweet than bitter but yes bittersweet.

5 minute friday: Home

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.

2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

OK, are you ready? Please give us your best five minutes on:

Home

Start:
     That feeling when you pull into the driveway and there is a light in the window and you start thinking about what you left crocking that morning and suddenly the red lights and traffic slowdowns don't matter you have made it ~ you're home.
   Or is it waking to the sun coming through the window and that mostly rested feeling because the kids slept the night and so did you; and there is nowhere you have to be and so  you follow little footsteps downstairs and find a cartoon and snuggle into the couch for a lazy morning at home.  STOP


Please now visit Lisa-Jo's for more 5 minute friday.

Quick Takes #128

1. Birthday celebrations were enjoyed by one and all, a darling puppy was added to the family after a visit to Build.A.Bear and the family lunch to follow was yummy as it largely featured Friendly's ice cream
2. Together with Daddy, she put together her new scooter and then took to the road, or sidewalk actually.
3. The day ended with a dinner at IHOP, or as she called it when asked where dinner was to happen "the breakfast for dinner place", with friends complete with cake.
4. Caitlin marked her 8th week by twice skipping her 2 am feeding and clocking in a solid 5 hour sleep.  Mommy approves!
5. Last night however all three decided to take turns keeping Mommy company; such kind & caring children ~ coffee please!
6. While choosing not to vote I did follow with amused curiosity the Busted Halo Papal Madness.
7. Looking forward to a weekend with everyone home and no major commitments.  Whatever yours holds, have a good one.

Please visit Conversion Diary for more of this week's Quick Takes

Wordless Wednesday: Birthday Girl

Happy 5th Birthday Elisabeth!

It's said that cliches become cliches because they are true:
Well today I very much believe the adage;

The days are long but the years go fast!

2 years old

This past year you have learned to swim and write your name and are beginning to learn how to read.  You now ride a bike like a pro (with training wheels) and have added another younger sibling to love and help care for.

3 Years Old

Birthday ballon for a 4 year old

We had a hard time picking a theme this year since you sort-of 'love' fairies, disney princesses and Hello Kitty all the same so your party has elements of all three.

Such a great big sister!

The coming year will bring Kindergarten, and many other adventures.

So happy and proud to be your mom and along for the ride.

Happy Birthday!!

5 minute friday: Ordinary

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.

2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

OK, are you ready? Please give us your best five minutes on:

Ordinary

Start:

     Is it ordinary yet?  Certainly I'm not surprise to hear you cry for me in the night or forget to bring you with me in the car while running errands.  However there is still an awkwardness calling you by name, with me as often calling you baby girl almost as my brain is getting used to that idea first.  

   That said seven weeks later I'm loving learning your personality, your different expressions and how you like to be held.  On reflection, having you in our world and family is definitely not yet ordinary and that is kinda wonderful.

Stop:

Now please head to Lisa Jo's for more 5 minute friday