7 quick Back -to -the -Grind takes

Source: saniapell.com via Michael on Pinterest

1. As I take a teeny breather between homework submissions, I will tell you about what the post-Christmas  (for me this is a little later than most--around mid January) period inevitably brings to our house. I love my Christmas tree, and hate to rush to take it down. Then, one day, I suddenly realize that it MUST COME DOWN RIGHT NOW. And then, I take it down about a week from that day. On the heels of that, I get the cleaning bug. No waiting for Spring for me! And, after that, I want to do improvement projects around the house. Which makes me start looking longingly at pictures like the one above. We did begin painting our first floor last summer--not finished yet, and what we did paint is already looking dirty. ( I know--I promised pictures. Maybe when it's all done. Around 2023-ish should work).  It's kind of frightening just how clockwork-y this happens every year. Anybody else go through this?

2. The above photo is on my Pinterest board. For some reason, one needs to be invited to join it. Not sure why? I am late to the game, having heard of it many moons ago, but my daughter Meghann recently joined and invited me, so I am happy to be sharing some activity with her over the miles. Plus, it is fun. It's kind of like a dream organizer and springboard for ideas. If you would like to try it out, I would be happy to send you an invite.

3. Ah, politics. I watch every morning and night for a little. I heard Downton Abbey is back with Season 2, so now I will have a great diversion. I'll have to watch it on the internet, which means another hour at my computer, the place in which I toil away at court reporting school in ever increasing time blocks. But it will be sweet to see it again! It's my all time favorite. Unlike politics. Which I have found to be a necessary evil. I would love to be non-political, but the world we live in requires me to speak and not be silent on some matters. My conscience requires it.



 4. School. I'm still at it. It's hard and getting harder. I always feel like I'm in the weeds. I keep thinking how much easier it would be to, say, be a Pulitzer prize winning anything, or juggle chain saws than to do this. But despite my feelings about it, I am still doing well in the testing. I am even taking grammar, so I now can bludgeon you to death with verb conjugations and dangling participles.When I start bombing the tests, I'll let you know, and maybe you can refer me to a reasonable chain saw retailer.

5. Spiritual-wise, I am still thinking a lot about that way Jesus has of being involved in our lives. How He doesn't wait until we get everything right. About that Mother Angelica quote that goes, “Unless you are willing to do the ridiculous, God will not do the miraculous. When you have God, you don’t have to know everything about it; you just do it.” And the passage in St. Louis de Monfort's Total Consecration to Jesus Through Mary that says, "In this most of all hast Thou showed me the sweetness of Thy love, that when I had no being, Thou didst make me; and when I was straying far from Thee, Thou brought me back again, that I might serve Thee: and Thou hast commanded me to serve Thee. O Fountain of everlasting love, what shall I say of Thee? How can I forget Thee, Who hast vouchsafed to remember me even after I was corrupted and lost? Beyond all hope Thou showest mercy to Thy servant; and beyond all desert, hast Thou manifested Thy grace and friendship." ( in turn taken fromThe Imitation of Christ). Both these quotes remind me that, A. I should just keep going and do what I do know to be good and right, what ever next step is given to me, to take it, and not worry that I don't know what the step after that will be; and B. Don't worry that because I am not "finished" yet that He will not answer my prayers and cries for help, for me and for my loved ones, or listen to their prayers and cries for help, for said reason stated above. And of course, my prayers that they will cry out to Him in their need... and so on. It's that principle I learned via Father Corapi, of backing up and asking for everything we need, even the ability to ask.

6. Still praying for Father Corapi, whose website has recently been taken down. Immaculate Heart of Mary, have mercy on us.

7. March for Life, DC. Want to go. Need a low priced bus. Perhaps this year, one with heat. We do like going with Father Tom and the Chinese kids from his school, they are really nice. But they leave on the early side, making it hard to do the testimonies with theSilent No More group. Every year, I  imagine the inner dialogue of the coordinators, Janet and Georgette, as I run up to them and pull on their coat sleeves, saying, " I need to go, like first or second (out of sixty plus) because my bus is leaving!" going something like, "Here she comes again! (eye roll) Don't they have any other buses from Philly?" In fact, they sometimes do have, but we are usually too late, they are too expensive, or like last year, the one we signed up for got cancelled due to low registration. Sigh. So I guess we should get on it!--also in the same vein--this month's pro life mass at Saint John the Evangelist in Philadelphia, on Jan. 21, two days before the March for Life, will be attended by youth groups and some others, (yikes my memory!) but if you are in the area, please come! I will try my best to get a few pictures! Justin, Rachael ,Steve and I will be singing, Bob at the piano. It is lovely when we have additional attendees, especially on this landmark occasion.

~Blessings and Peace~

Kelly

a mother's January first

Another January first! My fiftieth one on this earth.I will not have my fiftieth birthday until July, but I have been here for fifty January firsts. It's an interesting place to be.

                                                                                                                                                                  I don't feel old, I still think in terms of what I am going to be when I grow up. On one hand, I have lots and lots of things I want to do, and on another, I am already sad when the house is too empty. I kind of wander around and call whatever kid I think is available to talk. Usually Meghann; she is kind enough to just tell me about the minutia of her day (with great panache), and help me feel connected to her and her sweet little family in a way that staves off the awful emptiness with which my season of life is threatening me.

But it's not empty nest time yet~only sort of a transitional period. One day there will be roughly seventeen people in the house, the next, everybody has somewhere to go. Weird.

Two of the girls are applying for college, but until we know where they end up, we won't know if they will live home or at school. But that time will be another chapter in the growing pains of our family. (mostly mine). As much as I can think of things I would like to tackle, or take up again, my role as a mother is such a large part of who I am, that I am going to have to really work at having that kind of mothering, the every day kind, drop into the background. Of course I am hoping that there will be other grandchildren to love and help out with, as much as I am able.  Poor Kaden will only be able to withstand so much Nonnie-doting.

I am beginning a book called Unbound, by Neal Lozano, as prescribed by my spiritual director. I have read a few chapters so far. I think I see some work on the horizon. Please pray for me!
I also am attempting to tackle a few neglected areas, such as the dentist (~shiver~) and a physical that I know is going to lead to other "routine " tests for a woman of a certain age. :P :P :P Anyone who knows me will know that I am only doing these things out of a sense of duty to try and stay healthy for my family. I will take anybody else to the doctor or dentist...but I try to steer clear myself.

Thankfully, at this moment, there are five kids sprawled around the living room watching a movie, and the dinner table tonight was full, for our traditional New Year's kielbasa and sauerkraut. So, if anything, I will be shouting down the steps for quiet, and to ask if anybody locked the door, and not to forget to turn off the lights. whew!