Quick Takes #259: Spring flowers and toothaches

1. Locally we had a good week; trees are starting to blossom and the kids were out after dinner last night skateboarding and roller skating. And the first lawn mowing of the year is in the books.
2. Am recovering today from getting a filling. According to my dentist it is a good news ~ bad news situation; the good news is that the nerve looks healthy; bad news she knows this because she could see the nerve. Prayers appreciated that the nerve stays healthy and I can avoid a root canal.
3. Looks like my Boy prediction for the Duchess of Cambridge held; and I think the name is a nice mix of traditional and non-traditional.
4. I find the Duchess to be such a wonderful example of truth in pregnancy; when she is sick she doesn't hide it and therefore shining an important light on Hyperemesis Gravidarum.  Conversely she shows how very normal and straightforward birth can be. For many years I worked at a Birth Center where barring complications mom & baby were discharged at 12 hours post-delivery and most left at 6-8 hours postpartum.  Though full disclosure most were not wearing heels; full props to her for that!
5. Lost another touchpoint from my youth, though before this week I would not have known his name. Like many in my generation I grew up singing the songs of Schoolhouse Rock and am now introducing my kids to them.  Thank you Bob Dorough! 
6. Lucky find of the week; Snowdrift! Georgette Heyer is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. I have some long books coming up in my TBR which I am excited about, but am also thinking an occasional short story may be just what is needed.
7. Have a good weekend and please head over to Kelly's for more 7QT's.

Daybook Late April '18

    
Excited For: Spring to settle in; for open windows and being outside.  It stayed cold throughout March and into April so everything is blooming a bit late. Daffodils are about done but the lily of the valley are still small green sprouts and neither the plum or dogwood in my yard have bloomed yet.
   
Wearing: Windbreakers and on occasion short sleeves.  Rain boots and on occasion flip-flops.  Winter coats are not yet put away but I'm thinking soon.  
   
Planting:
   Heather and phlox! Recently bought a forsythia and have to decide where to plant as my first idea is not going to work.  Have in the past planted tomatoes and basil; and am thinking about
 what else we might plant this summer.

Reading: The Canticle of the Soul by St John of the Cross which I am finding edifying if a bit ponderous. Next up in the queue Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day.

Watching:  Timeless, Blindspot, Good Bones, Call the Midwife and for a bit of late night fun Hogan's Heros.

Elisabeth is meeting the challenges of the increase workload 4th grade brings with her usual intensity but actually is doing really well. She continues to have an amazing imagination and a real knack at making things come to life through legos or in Minecraft.  Art and Math are her favorite school subjects. 

Liam after a few minor bumps has settled well into the 1st grade; consonant blends are bit of a struggle with his hearing loss but with the help of a reading specialist Liam is becoming more and more of an independent reader; favorite series being Elephant and Piggie.  Pokemon and all things ninja are still tops in his world.  Always a great eater; he is currently with the help of his sisters eating through a big box of Lucky Charms every week!


Caitlin is loving Pre-K and doing really well; making friends and writing her letters.  She loves being read to; and I'm so excited to watch over the next year as she begins to learn to read herself.  Wonderful imagination; she loves role playing games like restaurant, school, and farm.  She still loves to watch Max & Ruby and Shimmer & Shine.

Quick Takes #258: Where Art Thou O Spring?

1. I must start by stating last weekend was glorious; warm breezes, bright sun! Perfect porch reading weather.  And despite how much I reminded myself that it wasn't going to last; that it is not suppose to be in the 70's in April, the return to the rainy 40's has been bumpy.  What has a girl gotta do to get some sun and 60's? 
2. The other thing making last weekend so much fun was a visit from my mom. Winter weather and house issues had kept postponing her visit since New Year so we all really enjoyed having her here for the weekend.  Dr Daddy cooked delicious food and ran point on the kids giving us time to catch-up.
3. Other excitement: Caitlin lost her first tooth becoming the earliest to such a milestone by several months over her siblings. Great excitement ensued and the Tooth Fairy made a visit!
4. Great mail week; Ponder, and One Beautiful Dream arrived!! I'm currently reading Spiritual Canticle of the Soul by Saint John of the Cross; and having recently finished The Interior Castle by Saint Theresa of Avila has left me wondering if the writing feels so similar because they were friends or if that was simply the approach to spiritual writing at the time.
5. Was sorry to learn of the death of Former First Lady Barbara Bush; though by all accounts it was peaceful and after a very long life. I'm of a generation to remember her wonderful example of compassion in her insistence that children battling AIDS (and indeed everyone battling that awful disease) needed to be touched and held.
6. Royal Baby Watch: I'm thinking Boy but otherwise just very excited to see who is joining the Cambridge household and when.
7. Dr Daddy is unfortunately working but am otherwise hoping for a good weekend. Whatever yours holds; have a  good one!

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

Quick Takes #257 Happy Easter and April!!

1. Hi ~ Happy April! Happy Easter!!
2. How was your Lent? Mine was good overall; I really enjoyed the Take Up and Read devotional and felt it helped me dig deep this Lent and revealed areas of ongoing items for my prayer life. I finished the two books I had planned to read and started a third.  I also managed not to 'cheat' on my commitment to not read fiction except on Sunday (and than only my sister's latest).  What did not go as well was almsgiving; we participated in different opportunities the kids school offered but I'm left feeling that aspect was a bit lacking. 
3. Having finished my sister's book Fix My Fall earlier this week I then spent a couple of days like a kid in a candy store trying to decide what to read next; reread a favorite or try something new??  I've decided to split the difference and am reading a story I've never read by a favorite author.  
4. Tridium went well with me attending with the kids Mass of the Lord's Supper, Good Friday Service and Mass Easter morning.  Mass Thursday evening was late for the kids but I loved being able to hear the Panga Linga sung again by Dr Daddy and the rest of wonderful choir he sings with as well as introducing the kids to the custom of Eucharistic Procession and Adoration. 
5. Easter morning was wonderful as the kids explored and enjoyed what the Easter Bunny left in their baskets and we attended Mass together as a family before digging in for the last minute preparation for Easter Dinner where we host the Tridium choir Dr Daddy sings with.  Dr Daddy's annual colcannon was delicious and the dessert table groaning as a friend now living in MD made the trip and brought with her her amazing butter creams.
6. April is locally off to a gray and rainy start but with enough sunshine to convince my daffodils to bloom and forsythia to blossom.  Yes there is snow in the forecast but as Mr Carson often said "We must always travel in Hope."
7. Have a wonderful weekend and please head to Kelly's for more 7QTs!

Poetry Pause: Ready for Silence

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

Quick Takes #256: Is Journalling for Me?

Disclaimer: Despite all the links, this is not a sponsored post and the links are not affiliated. Just what I've tried and liked or not.

1. For all that I'm (according to this study) squarely a member of Generation X and spend much of my time typing on my keyboard as well as on my phone/tablet there is something very special to me about putting pen to paper. Especially when those papers are together in a bound book with the idea writing on this topic over time.  Below are some of the ways journaling has and has not worked for me.
2. Prayer ~ Yes! Starting in college I have on and off kept a prayer journal and while not currently I am planning on starting again after Lent when I've finished the devotional I'm using. I find it a useful way to concretely lift up those people and things I want to bring before God and for recording blessings. A useful idea that I found in the Take Up & Read devotional I'm using this Lent is acknowledging past hurts and leaving them at the foot of the cross.  I may also continue this practice of asking Jesus help in letting go of past hurts.
3. Book ~ Yes! Inspired and encouraged by MMD, and with a TBR (to be read) list growing beyond easy recall I started book journaling a few years ago with this journal and then later started free handing one using this kit.  I really like having a book to keep track of what of I've read, categories in reading challenges I'm doing, and books or authors I want to read.  I also use Goodreads as a tracker and useful way of 'bookmarking' books I hear about online.  
4. Bullet ~ No! Or rather not yet...I love seeing others and am intrigued by the idea but my first attempt was a bust.  The book I ordered was too big for me to use easily; and I think until I have better sense of how I want to lay things out lined paper will work better than dot grids.  I also need to figure out if I prefer spiral books or if it is just what I know and feel more comfortable with.
5. Gratitude ~Yes! Inspired by Ann Voskamp's book One Thousand Gifts a couple years ago also tried to record 1000 blessing in a year.  I succeeded and enjoyed the experience so have decided to try again this year and have a journal where every few days I record blessings and moments of grace not to be missed amidst the chaos.  This certainly could be part of a prayer journal and may get folded into mine at some future point.
6. Pens and Markers: I have found along the way that I really like the Staedtier triplus fineliner, and these black pens and these markers.  Separate shout-out but on the topic of pens; this year Elisabeth is only suppose to write in ink for schoolwork other than math and we have these to be a great erasable pen. They write very smoothly and erase cleanly!
7. What about you? What are some of your favorite types of journaling? Pens and other accessories?

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

Open Book: March '18

   Mrs Mike is the story of Katherine Flannigan an American who married a Canadian Mountie and followed him into the Northwest Territory by Benedict and Nancy Freedman.  This was a reread for me and it was as good as I remembered. While not sugarcoating the realities of living in such a remote location as far as wild animals, and disease; the book is not too graphic but rather focuses on their marriage, growing family and the strength of community.  I first read the book as a teenager but may have appreciated it more now having been married myself.

The Interior Castle by St Teresa of Avila (translated by Rev. John Dalton) is a book written by the Saint for her fellow Carmelite sisters about the state of the soul and its progression towards closeness to God using the metaphor of traveling through seven rooms or mansions moving nearer and nearer to God.  I've not yet finished the book but am currently reading about the 6th mansion.  While she loses me occasionally overall I'm learning so much about clearing out the debris or noise of the world to better hear God's voice; and can clearly understand why this is a classic of Catholic literature.

Please head over to Carolyn's for more Open Book.