Quick Takes #214: What I learned on my day in the Shenandoah

1. Last Saturday I had the great good privilege of attending a conference hosted by the CWBN (Catholic Women Blogger Network) Mid-Atlantic conference and it was awesome!! An amazing opportunity to step away from daily life, listen to great talks, and sit around a table sharing concerns and being supported by other women of faith.
2. Meet and greet; was lovely especially after I got over my nerves at meeting in the flesh such amazing, inspiring bloggers as Mary and Kelly.  Of course there was also the wondrous feeling of meeting IRL blogger friends like Lisa and them being as great as you knew they would be. Plus loving on all those beautiful babies!!
3. Mary's talk started off the day by offering a wonderful meditation on motherhood and encouraging us to call on our Blessed Mother for the courage to be who and write about what our Lord is calling us to; to show the committment of Mother Theresa and to believe in our vision with the tenacity that Mother Angelica demonstrated.
4. Elizabeth's keynote encouraged us to balance creativity with authenticity. I so appreciated the reminder to be true to myself on this blog and trust that if I share honestly of the insights gained from living my life and pursuing my vocation my readers will leave happy.  She also offered a lot of food for thought about how to honestly share my journey as a mom and wife without oversharing my children's story.
5. After a lunch where I got feed my body with yummy food; and my spirit by the wonderful conversation with my small group we were blessed as Jennifer Ryan shared her expertise in affiliate management which was so kind of her and gave me so much to think about as this is an aspect of blogging I have yet not explored.   This is also the point in the day when a bear cub ran across the yard adding a fun moment of excitement  to the day!
6. The day ended with all the speakers plus our emcee (and lovely link-up host) Kelly forming a panel and answering anything and everything we asked!
7. From crossing the Shenandoah in the morning to crossing the Susquehanna at dusk: blessings all day long!  My thanks to our lovely host Rosie and everyone else who worked so hard to put together such a wonderful conference!

Please head over to Kelly's for more 7QT's

New headshot featured above courtesy of Rachel Cupps who so generously shared her time and talent to the ladies of the conference.

Quick Takes #184: Stream of Consciousness 800 posts later!

1. Have of course been following the coverage out of Charleston; so impressed with how the church community has pushed forward and how the victims families have already been able to talk about the power of forgiveness
2. Summer so far is going well with daily trips to a local playground or time spent biking or scootering around the neighborhood. The pace is about to pick with community camp starting today; and July brings a week of gymnastics camp for the two bigs and later an enrichment week for Elisabeth. As always hoping to strike the right balance between planning activities and allowing for downtime. 
3. The house a year later has that familiar home feel to it; and while there is less pictures hung and more book boxes still to unpack then I would have guessed a year back I also know a lot of livin happened in the past year and bit by bit the filling of book shelves and hanging of pictures will happen.
4. Soon I plan to enlist Lisbeth's help in pick-up her room sufficient for pictures to be taken and perhaps a post about how we transformed her room since moving in. Regardless of whether I ever post about it ~ I'm very much feeling the pressure to capture this moment for something tells me that her room may look very different by next summer. 
5. If the Blogger post counter is to be believed this is my 800th post which is something I can't quite wrap my brain around but promise a more fleshed out reflection on at some point soon. In the meantime thank you for all of you who have read along on this adventure.
6. Prayers for all those without power especially our hostess.
7. Plans for the weekend include swimming lessons, shopping and general charging after a couple of tough weeks.

Please head over to Kelly's for more 7QT's

A blogaversary and thoughts for the way ahead

   6 years ago I started this blog and while this past year I struggled a lot I kept it going ~ the blog is still here and some am I. Perhaps not posting as often as I would like and but maybe the 'little engine that could' feeling I've been feeling is not so wrong.

The Saint Generator sponsored by Jen Fulwiler of The Conversion Diary selected Saint Therese of Lisieux for me this year and in the spirit of her Little Way I will continue.

In pretty much every way this is a little blog but as long as I'm trying my best and am sincere in my desire to share a bit of what I know and what I'm learning as I grow in my vocation there is a reason to keep posting and sharing.

A huge hug and thank you to you readers who have kept reading though the postings grow lean.

Onward!

A question for you

or two or three.

   As I'm getting back into the swing of posting regularly and trying to plan ahead to maybe have a few posts ready for posting while we are busy moving I want to know

What would you like to know?

What would you like to see more of, less of?

Topics you enjoy talking or reading about; perhaps over a cup of tea

Thanks in advance.

Stop Raining in my Sandbox

Mommy blogger vent ~ feel free to skip

I know you can't please all of the people all of the time but it really bothers me when commenters chose to be hurtful rather than moving on or seeing the humor.

Dr Daddy is having a crazy travel week what with giving a talk in Portland, OR on Tuesday,  seeing patients in his clinic yesterday (Philadelphia) and giving another talk in New York this morning.  So yesterday I loaded our borrowed rental (another story for another day) and we met Charlie for dinner in the train station before he left.  And it was exhausting and a blast!

Both!! My saying it was exhausting does not mean it was not a blast or that I regret it. Yes it was great fun for the kids to see Dr Daddy and eat in a train station; to listen to the conductor call "All Aboard" and see the trains, but getting into the city, finding parking, and getting everyone home and into bed by myself was a bit exhausting too, so what!

As has been said by those wiser and funnier than me (Colleen, Grace, Dwija)

We are making memories and raising saints, and trying to capture this moment in time.

And you are more than welcome to come along if you want, otherwise stop raining in my sandbox!

Sunday Best and a Challenge Completed

     Church was just us girls today and overall went well; Caitlin did request a feeding and Lisbeth a bathroom run but one can't always plan around this bodily calls.  Having recently mastered the 'Our Father' Lisbeth enjoyed the Gospel and for the first time in ever listened to part of the homily.
They both earned an A-.

Inspired by Ana, I recently bought (and wore today) a polka-dot shirt.  I like that they are of different sizes giving a sort of bubble effect. The rest of the outfit consisted of black slacks and shoes.

Clearly need to work on my selfies technique

     This post also marks to completion of the 7 posts in 7 days challenge.  It has been both easier and tougher than I guessed.  I could usually easily think of something to write each day but while I know in my head that most of what I write is interesting only to me and maybe some family members, my heart loves comments and so posting multiple times in a short period was a bit tougher on the emotions than I had anticipated.  Still I'm glad I took and met the Challenge.

5 favorites: vol 6

1. Sunscreen Stick: I try hard to avoid outside play 11 to 1; and carry one of these in my purse and diaper bag for faces for when we hit the playground.  One less thing to remember leaving the house: Love!

2. Coffee ice cubes: Leftover morning coffee converted into ice cubes for afternoon ice coffee ~ genius! Thank you Pinterest!

3. Diners, Drive-in & Dives: funny host, homey diners and creative cooks; a new favorite show for some low-key evening brain candy.

4. My New Bathroom

5. Blogger Mom Nation: Take one amazing, kind and generous blogger amidst an epic battle for life with a lousy laundry room ~ add a couple wonderful bloggers with a great idea how to help = Greatness!!  Check it out!

Please head over to Moxie Wife for more favorites!

It was a banner day!!

Finally thanks to the wonderful design talent and skill of Megan Stout my little blog is sporting a lovely in living color banner!!


To see more of Megan's work head over to Justin's Shop.

Four years later..

Four years ago I started this blog, and four years later:

• I've finally created an about page
• I'm still finding my voice
• I'm proud of myself for staying with it through dry spells
• I'm starting to understand the story I want to tell
• have many post ideas in the works
• I'm grateful beyond words for the friends & fellowship found
• I'm excited for what the coming year might bring.

Day 31 ~ Writing my story

     Firstly thank you to the nester for sponsoring the 31 day challenge and the gypsy mom for her inspiration and guidance through the specific Write your story challenge.

   Secondly thank you to my readers who followed along and provided support and encouragement.

   Thirdly (and lastly)  a few thoughts.  I have really enjoyed taking part in this 31 day adventure and while I am looking forward to not having the pressure to post something everyday ( or guilt when I didn't), I truly believe this challenge was just the shot in the arm I and this blog needed.  I have been able to work through some fears and anxieties and found inspiration in the different perspectives offered by some blogs and writers I discovered in the past month.  I already have several ideas for posts in November and in general have re-found my energy and enthusiasm for blogging ~ and writing my story.

Day 13 ~ Encouragement to stay the course

    So the 'packed but doable day' of course morphs into the complicated by child up incredible early, work deadline, huge traffic jam and errands taking 3x as long to complete as you had guess day ~ and you are at that point in the challenge where the enthusiasm of starting out has passed and you're not yet at any big milestone of achievement (i.e halfway, or within view of the finish) and you are wondering why you started and if anyone would notice if you skipped a day or stopped all together.

   And then friends tell you they are reading and enjoying what you are writing and the host of the challenge post a favorite quote by a favorite author ~ and suddenly you can go on, will go on and want to keep writing your story, before you fall asleep at your keyboard.

Day 9 ~ Other peoples stories

Today we are to speak of inspiration we have gathered from someone else's story.  For me there are so many, part of what I have enjoyed so much about blogging was learning other people stories.  Today I'm going to highlight two.

Mindy of Sweetness in the Small Stuff: An amazing mom I met during my first pregnancy and her third ~ she has since added two more children to her family.  She writes so beautifully about her faith and following where it leads her, be it towards homeschooling or changing how she cooks for her family to where she gets the food she prepares for them.


Paige of Sojourner: Another amazing mom I met thru a pregnancy website, and I have loved reading along as they have grown their family, also made decisions about schooling, she has written her first novel and become more involved in issues of protecting life.


Amazing women, both, and such inspiration to me ~ as a mom, woman, and blogger.

Day 8 ~ Because someone else needs your story

Today's prompt that I should be brave in writing about my thoughts and experiences because someone needs my story has always been an interesting idea to me.  I've spent much of my adult life sure that I had something to offer world around me but afraid of being rude, wrong or an imposition.  I also value highly the notion that we are all in this world called to serve and to use the gifts given us by God to be of help to one another.


So on this blog and in comment boxes I share of my experiences, what I've learned over these nearly forty years, and what I believe about life and love, faith and family ~ hoping that something I say will resonate with a reader and that someday when my littles read these recordings they enjoying reading about their early adventures and antics and how much sharing in them meant to me.

Mostly I keep writing and sharing despite my fears and doubts because this is my little corner of the world; my thoughts and writing are honestly offered with the kindest of intentions and the best of hopes.

31 day challenge ~ Writing my story

So when I opened my Google Reader yesterday this is what I found from Lisa Jo Baker;

Welcome to 31 days – the beautiful brainchild of the Nester who inspires us to spend the month of October writing every single day on a topic that might inspire a community.

Continue reading for my day 1 post. Or you can browse the other posts in my series as they pop up below each new day in October.

And I'm taking the challenge because part of my story is that I love reading and writing ~ as in as long as I can remember ~ but have never felt very confident about my writing abilities (feedback in school was always very mixed).  So I'm going to take the deep breath, follow Lisa Jo's prompts and see where the next 31 days takes me.

When the words don't come

And sometimes the words don't come: a stressful couple of weeks with my husband working a lot and so  me soloing at home a lot, a nagging summer cold, and minor but real worries about the kids have many post ideas swirling in my head but nothing that wants to take form when I can sit at the keyboard.

Not wanting the perfect become the enemy of the good ~ and let so much time go by that I begin to have unrealistic expectations of what is worthy for me to publish ~ a few words from me; and a link to someone saying how this time feels to me so much better than I can because sometimes the words don't come.

Please visit Joy Beyond the Cross and enjoy Marie's post "Real Posting"