June 7, 2009,
It has been six months since I wrote anything here. And it is late on a Sunday night and I'm
tired. I live in a diocese that has suffered some liberal leadership in the past and I am finding a struggling Catholic community since I moved here - really. Nearly two years into our move here, my husband and I still struggle with which parish to make our parish home and how to live as Catholics in a barely Catholic area.
Sorry if I sound like a whiner. But having lived in Memphis for a dozen years, and having become Catholic in Memphis, I find that I am spoiled. There were over a dozen really good Catholic churches to attend there plus two that offered the Latin Mass, which is a blessing and a wonderful thing to expose the kids to.
I keep thinking God must want us here for a reason. So I keep praying. And I believe we will actually end up at the small, urban Catholic church rather than the beautiful cathedral Downtown. We are small church people, and we are a mixed marriage - Caucasian and Hispanic. So we just fit in better there.
It is really hard to rebuild your life when you are in your 40s. Who knew that moving would be so hard? Yet there are blessings here in plenty: a stable job, a beautiful area, the safety of a smaller town and the availability of Daily Mass. That last is something I should truly take advantage of now that school is done and I don't need to plan my homeschool every week.
We went to the "last chance Mass" tonight because of our son's Cub Scout campout over the weekend. It's a 5 p.m. Sunday Mass at the small, urban church. I truly love going to Mass. The liturgy and the mudic spark something in my brain that reminds me of who I am intended to be. And I resolve to try harder. And to attend Daily Mass.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Green homeschooling
Jan. 15, 2009
For some reason, I have been thinking today about how homeschooling reduces my carbon footprint. So much less driving! That is not to say that we stay home constantly. But I do not drive to work daily, nor do I drive the kids to school.
My kids don't ride the bus, they don't eat school lunches made from food bought in bulk and likely transported across the country
We drive to co-op once a week. And I take the kids to Girl and Boy scouts, but that is only one mile away. My daughter is in Little Flowers, but I'm the leader and it's at our house so not much of a carbon footprint there.
Because we are homeschoolers, we eat at home just about 95% of the time. Maybe 99% of the time. We also shop local markets in season. I would like to reduce my carbon footprint (and my grocery bill) even further this year by planting a good-sized garden on our flat yard of 1.25 acres. And we don't throw away leftovers. My homemade vegetable soup incorporates all vegetable leftovers, and it's actually pretty good. I'm making it today. Maybe that is what got me on this random train of thought.
I make the most of the small town where live, doing all errands such as banking, grocery shopping and library-going here. The mid-sized city 8 miles away fulfills most other needs.
I did visit Sam's Club this week. Talk about a carbon footprint. I decided it wasn't for me. It makes me buy more than I need and it is a good 30 minutes away in traffic. I'd rather go to Kroger, buy generic and get only what I need.
For recreation, the kids have a huge yard and a favorite park about 3 miles away. For exercise, I walk my neighborhood and ride my rickety, old exercise bike. Can't think of other ways we keep our footprint small right now. But if anyone out there has any ideas, please chime in.
For some reason, I have been thinking today about how homeschooling reduces my carbon footprint. So much less driving! That is not to say that we stay home constantly. But I do not drive to work daily, nor do I drive the kids to school.
My kids don't ride the bus, they don't eat school lunches made from food bought in bulk and likely transported across the country
We drive to co-op once a week. And I take the kids to Girl and Boy scouts, but that is only one mile away. My daughter is in Little Flowers, but I'm the leader and it's at our house so not much of a carbon footprint there.
Because we are homeschoolers, we eat at home just about 95% of the time. Maybe 99% of the time. We also shop local markets in season. I would like to reduce my carbon footprint (and my grocery bill) even further this year by planting a good-sized garden on our flat yard of 1.25 acres. And we don't throw away leftovers. My homemade vegetable soup incorporates all vegetable leftovers, and it's actually pretty good. I'm making it today. Maybe that is what got me on this random train of thought.
I make the most of the small town where live, doing all errands such as banking, grocery shopping and library-going here. The mid-sized city 8 miles away fulfills most other needs.
I did visit Sam's Club this week. Talk about a carbon footprint. I decided it wasn't for me. It makes me buy more than I need and it is a good 30 minutes away in traffic. I'd rather go to Kroger, buy generic and get only what I need.
For recreation, the kids have a huge yard and a favorite park about 3 miles away. For exercise, I walk my neighborhood and ride my rickety, old exercise bike. Can't think of other ways we keep our footprint small right now. But if anyone out there has any ideas, please chime in.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Gifts, hoping and waiting
Dec. 28, 2008
My excellent pastor here in VA is two for two with his homilies on Christmas Eve and the Feast of the Holy Family. Although I am still homesick for TN, I have to admit that the pastor here is wonderful and the church is absolutely beautiful.
On Christmas Eve, in a packed church where seating was, shall we say, competitive, he talked about gifts. The difference between gifts and rewards is that gifts, of course, do not need to be earned. And in Christ we have the gift of God's pure love. But then he also talked about how sometimes we can be disappointed by gifts and added that sometimes children and grownups can focus more on life's disappointments than all of the wonderful gifts we receive from God, such as peace, love joy, etc. I wonder if he chose to mention that because he had spent the previous two evenings offering extra hours of confessions for the last-chancers among us. Anyway, it was spot on, for me at least.
And today, he spoke of the Holy Family and our own families. And he said that we all hope, in our earthly families, that each person reaches the potential that God has for us in this world. We hope that, we pray that and then we wait. Again, perfect homily for me to hear on this day as we prepare to begin a new year and we wait and hope to hear about hubby's potential new job or anything else for that matter.
My excellent pastor here in VA is two for two with his homilies on Christmas Eve and the Feast of the Holy Family. Although I am still homesick for TN, I have to admit that the pastor here is wonderful and the church is absolutely beautiful.
On Christmas Eve, in a packed church where seating was, shall we say, competitive, he talked about gifts. The difference between gifts and rewards is that gifts, of course, do not need to be earned. And in Christ we have the gift of God's pure love. But then he also talked about how sometimes we can be disappointed by gifts and added that sometimes children and grownups can focus more on life's disappointments than all of the wonderful gifts we receive from God, such as peace, love joy, etc. I wonder if he chose to mention that because he had spent the previous two evenings offering extra hours of confessions for the last-chancers among us. Anyway, it was spot on, for me at least.
And today, he spoke of the Holy Family and our own families. And he said that we all hope, in our earthly families, that each person reaches the potential that God has for us in this world. We hope that, we pray that and then we wait. Again, perfect homily for me to hear on this day as we prepare to begin a new year and we wait and hope to hear about hubby's potential new job or anything else for that matter.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
St. Therese of Lisieux
Dec. 24, 2008
Just a little Christmas Eve blogging here. I found a wonderful book for my daughter and I hope she likes it. It is called Olivia and the Little Way. I am a sponsor of Little Flowers Catholic Girls Club, which is a sort of Catholic, virtue-based type of Girl Scouts based on learning about the saints. The girls especially try to model themselves on St. Therese, the Little Flower. But they earn nine virtue petals per wreath for learning about a saint and the virtue and doing certain activities.
I happen to love St. Therese, myself, and have read her Story of a Soul several times. But this little book was written by a Catholic mom of boys who loves St. Therese and it is all about a little girl named Olivia who moves from Texas to Michigan and all of the adventures and trials she finds there. Thanks to her grandmother, she tries to handle these things by putting into practice the attitudes of St. Therese and doing little things with great love, rather than great things. But it is told pretty true to a kid's point of view so I hope my daughter, also named Olivia, will like it. I'll find out tomorrow. She asked for a Calvin and Hobbes book, so I hope she won't be terribly disappointed. I'm sure the skateboard will dispel any momentary disappointment she may feel:) and perhaps she'll give the book a chance.
Merry Christmas!
Just a little Christmas Eve blogging here. I found a wonderful book for my daughter and I hope she likes it. It is called Olivia and the Little Way. I am a sponsor of Little Flowers Catholic Girls Club, which is a sort of Catholic, virtue-based type of Girl Scouts based on learning about the saints. The girls especially try to model themselves on St. Therese, the Little Flower. But they earn nine virtue petals per wreath for learning about a saint and the virtue and doing certain activities.
I happen to love St. Therese, myself, and have read her Story of a Soul several times. But this little book was written by a Catholic mom of boys who loves St. Therese and it is all about a little girl named Olivia who moves from Texas to Michigan and all of the adventures and trials she finds there. Thanks to her grandmother, she tries to handle these things by putting into practice the attitudes of St. Therese and doing little things with great love, rather than great things. But it is told pretty true to a kid's point of view so I hope my daughter, also named Olivia, will like it. I'll find out tomorrow. She asked for a Calvin and Hobbes book, so I hope she won't be terribly disappointed. I'm sure the skateboard will dispel any momentary disappointment she may feel:) and perhaps she'll give the book a chance.
Merry Christmas!
Monday, December 8, 2008
And another day
Dec. 8, 2008
The best part of today was going to Mass for Immaculate Conception. The church was beautiful and the priest was on target. Although Mary was conceived without sin, he said, her life was never any easier than ours is. After all, our Baptism washes away our original sin and we have all of the opportunities to receive God's grace in the sacraments. We can look to Mary as our model in saying "Yes" to God.
I know I receive God's grace, but I would love to receive some of his wisdom!
I am in a quandry. My husband's job goes from bad to worse. It pays well, yes, but the stress is tremendous and he is as unhappy as I've ever seen him. His only happiness is us - and food! And I am thinking of going back to work to lighten the financial load on him and allow him to take something less stressful. But I don't know what it would be as his job is so specialized. And I'm in that quandry. This is our third year of homeschooling and I don't want to just throw the kids back into school. And I'm not sure I would send them to public school - although would save money.
So, I don't know what to do and I need some guidance. Perhaps I will look to Mary and the book of Proverbs for that. I am extremely grateful to be a Catholic and to know that I have so many sources of guidance.
The best part of today was going to Mass for Immaculate Conception. The church was beautiful and the priest was on target. Although Mary was conceived without sin, he said, her life was never any easier than ours is. After all, our Baptism washes away our original sin and we have all of the opportunities to receive God's grace in the sacraments. We can look to Mary as our model in saying "Yes" to God.
I know I receive God's grace, but I would love to receive some of his wisdom!
I am in a quandry. My husband's job goes from bad to worse. It pays well, yes, but the stress is tremendous and he is as unhappy as I've ever seen him. His only happiness is us - and food! And I am thinking of going back to work to lighten the financial load on him and allow him to take something less stressful. But I don't know what it would be as his job is so specialized. And I'm in that quandry. This is our third year of homeschooling and I don't want to just throw the kids back into school. And I'm not sure I would send them to public school - although would save money.
So, I don't know what to do and I need some guidance. Perhaps I will look to Mary and the book of Proverbs for that. I am extremely grateful to be a Catholic and to know that I have so many sources of guidance.
Friday, December 5, 2008
still grateful
Dec. 5, 2008
I'm still grateful, in spite of the terrible news of layoffs today. What I am most grateful for is that my husband still has a job, although it is a very stressful one. I would be glad and grateful to go back to work myself to relieve some of this stress.
That said, I'm still grateful to still be able to homeschool my children. I see progress! I see a kid who can add, subtract, divide and multiply well. The same kid, after first grade, could not count back from 20. Just two years and a few months later, she has made tremendous progress.
I was grateful on Wednesday to be able to make cookies with my kids and practice the songs they will sing as part of the Christmas Choir for the Christmas Eve family Mass at our VA church.
And I'm grateful to have insurance that allows my husband to get a cardiology workup that shows he is in good shape. I am grateful to get flu shots for the kids and an eye exam for myself.
I am grateful to be finishing up the last of my Thanksgiving leftovers (more soup). And I'm grateful that I have discovered a Save-A-Lot in this VA town. We had one so close in our Tenn. home.
Obviously, I'm focused on finances. But I am grateful for other things as well. I am especially glad my 7-year-old son will receive his first Sacrament of Reconciliation tomorrow and that I will participate in the service by leading the Rosary for those waiting in the Church. We have more than 50 kids making First Reconciliation. Still getting used to the big church:).
God bless you all this season.
I'm still grateful, in spite of the terrible news of layoffs today. What I am most grateful for is that my husband still has a job, although it is a very stressful one. I would be glad and grateful to go back to work myself to relieve some of this stress.
That said, I'm still grateful to still be able to homeschool my children. I see progress! I see a kid who can add, subtract, divide and multiply well. The same kid, after first grade, could not count back from 20. Just two years and a few months later, she has made tremendous progress.
I was grateful on Wednesday to be able to make cookies with my kids and practice the songs they will sing as part of the Christmas Choir for the Christmas Eve family Mass at our VA church.
And I'm grateful to have insurance that allows my husband to get a cardiology workup that shows he is in good shape. I am grateful to get flu shots for the kids and an eye exam for myself.
I am grateful to be finishing up the last of my Thanksgiving leftovers (more soup). And I'm grateful that I have discovered a Save-A-Lot in this VA town. We had one so close in our Tenn. home.
Obviously, I'm focused on finances. But I am grateful for other things as well. I am especially glad my 7-year-old son will receive his first Sacrament of Reconciliation tomorrow and that I will participate in the service by leading the Rosary for those waiting in the Church. We have more than 50 kids making First Reconciliation. Still getting used to the big church:).
God bless you all this season.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
More thanks
Nov. 29, 2008
More things for which to be thankful:
Eggnog
The fact that Eggnog is not sold year-round (I love it!)
My old exercise bike
Walking with my sister-in-law over the holidays
A beautiful fall day in VA
My son's upcoming First Reconciliation (next Saturday)
Prayer and especially the Rosary'
More things for which to be thankful:
Eggnog
The fact that Eggnog is not sold year-round (I love it!)
My old exercise bike
Walking with my sister-in-law over the holidays
A beautiful fall day in VA
My son's upcoming First Reconciliation (next Saturday)
Prayer and especially the Rosary'
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
