Eastertide Daybook

I am listening to...

Bernadette is playing music from the Lord of the Rings on her violin. She spends about an hour each morning playing her violin. First, she practices and then she has fun, playing and picking out pieces that she has heard at Mass, on a CD, the radio or in a movie. Listening to her play makes for a relaxing morning. She has a very good ear. Last week, I listened to her violin lesson. She and her teacher played a duet of Bernadette's recital piece, "Two Guitars", and it was so moving that I almost started to cry.

Outside my window...

The sun is peeking through some clouds and birds are chirping. I am looking foward to another beautiful day.

I am thankful for...

My ultrasound went well last Wednesday. The baby is looking good.  He/she is big, but so were two of my other children. My doctor didn't mention anything about inducing me and it is comforting to think that this baby might be born during Mary's month. I have about two more weeks until my due date, plus or minus a few days. :) I can't wait to hold this baby in my arms. My husband and children are excited to do the same.

Thanks to a beautiful weekend, we spent some much needed time gardening together on Saturday. It made for a very relaxing day.

I am thinking about and praying for...

My son who will be making his First Confession on May 5 and receiving his First Holy Communion on May 6.

From the kitchen...

I am smelling eggs and sausage.

In the learning rooms...

We are working hard trying to finish as many lessons as we can before this baby is born.

I am wearing...
I am wearing a black maternity skirt and a red shirt.

I am reading...
When I can find a quiet moment (usually during my non-stress tests at the doctor's office), I am reading This Tremendous Lover. Each morning, I am reading First Communion Days to Patrick and anyone else who wants to listen. At bedtime, Elizabeth keeps requesting that I read Miss Rumphius and Hedgie's Surprise. I think that I have these two stories memorized.  Patrick and Finnian request various stories before bed, but they usually ask me to read at least one of these.

I am praying for...

Our Archbishop has been given the challenging task of overhauling the LCWR. He has also been receiving public flack from some of the priests in our Archdiocese for supporting R-74 (a bill that would repeal unnatural unions) and requesting that signatures be collected after Masses to help get this referendum on the ballot. I am praying for Archbishop Sartain that he may continue to follow the will of God. I am also praying for our Archdiocese, our priests and the faithful. We all need the prayers.

A few plans for the rest of the week...

We are looking forward to our Fine Arts Friday. I had planned to implement this at the beginning of the year, but I was unable to do so, save for choir. What may you ask is Fine Arts Friday? I found that some of my children do not take the time to draw or paint unless I set aside time for them to do so. Therefore on Fridays, we have set aside a time for the children to not only sing, but also to draw, study artwork and sometimes listen to music.  They are thoroughly enjoying this time together and so am I. I would like to add poetry recitation to the mix, but it might have to wait until next year.

Although I am not an artist by any means, art is a subject that I have enjoyed since high school. It is also a subject that all of my children seem to find rewarding.



Bunnies and hare drawn by my four eldest children