A Rainy Day Summer Daybook

Outside my window

It is overcast and raining lightly. We have had a very sunny summer so far. A little bit of rain is necessary to water our trees and flowers. As my husband told our pastor, "There's nothing wrong with a little rain. I like my grass to be the same color as my weeds."

I am wearing

a khaki skirt and a red shirt.

In the kitchen

I am happy that this berry cream birthday pie from Costco was well received. I thought that a pie would be a nice change from a cake.

I am dreaming about freshly caught barbecued salmon for dinner on Friday night.

I am thankful for

my baby boy! 

He is very active and smiles a lot. 

He will often giggle when one of his siblings gives him to me. I am so thankful that God blessed us with another little boy. I absolutely love him!

I am hearing

Kilian's breathing as he nurses and an occasional clap of thunder.

I am praying for

the priests, nuns, seminarians, my daughters, all the other girls, organizers, and volunteers of the FSSP camp in which our girls are participating.

I am praying for Eva. She had surgery on Monday and I am hoping that everything went smoothly and that she recovers quickly.

I am also continuing to pray for Kim.

We are learning all the time

Anthony returned from Camp St. Joseph, a boys' camp, with lots to share. It was the second FSSP boys' camp that he attended this summer. I am thankful that he was able to go to both camps and for all that he learned from the priests and seminarians. A couple of nights ago, he was telling us that Fr. Nolan had shown all of them how to do push ups correctly. Let me just say, they are much more difficult than the push ups that we learned to do when we were little. From the way he talks, I know that he thinks that "FSSP priests are cool". Not only are "they cool", but they are more manly than most men today. Most importantly, they are holy and have a deep love for God.

Cecilia sewed two more skirts before leaving for the girls' camp. She made them based on the measurements of this skirt. She is about 5'3". We bought 2 yards of material. This allowed Cecilia to cut 2 panels for each tier, giving her a nice seam down either side of the skirt. The top tier was 9" x 38" (she cut two 19" panels). The second tier was 7" x 50" (two 25" panels). The third tier was 7" x 64" (two 32" panels). The fourth tier was 7" x 80" (two 40" panels).  The fifth tier was 6" x 96" (two 48" panels). These shirts from Lands End go perfectly with the tiered skirt that we bought and the ones that she made.

Agnes made a gored skirt, using an old pattern that we have. I think that she has been bitten by the sewing bug too.

I am missing my three oldest daughters and praying that they are growing in their love for God. Last night, I was happy to hear from my friend, Elena, that everyone was okay after a wind and thunderstorm. I can't wait for them to come home.

I am reading

The Glories Of Mary by St. Alphonsus Liguori. This book is truly excellent! I am reading through it slowly and loving Our Blessed Mother more and more because of it. God is so good!

I am thinking about 

learning things by heart. In high school, I was blessed with an English teacher (a former college professor) who had us learn all sorts of things by heart. I still remember reciting from Chaucer in Old English:

Whan that Aprille with his shoures soote
The droghte of Marche hath perced to the roote,
And bathed every veyne in swich licour
Of which vertu engendred is the flour...

My children have also heard me quote from Samuel Taylor Coleridge's Rime of the Ancient Mariner

Water, water, everywhere,

Nor any drop to drink.

Anyway, this teacher recently shared that he used to receive snide comments from people, including fellow colleagues, because he would have us memorize poetry. What his colleagues didn't realize was that he was making a lasting impression on his students. "Doc", as my baby sister refers to him, was probably my favorite teacher because he had us not only read great literature, but learn to appreciate and like it. I will always be grateful that he taught us to enjoy learning things by heart and to love learning.

I am listening to

or rather replaying Fr. S.'s sermon from Sunday in my head. Fr. S. gave an excellent sermon (as usual) on Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the brown scapular. He shared that we should kiss our scapulars each night He mentioned that a soul is like a garden, and so much more. Finally, he told us that it is virtually impossible for anyone to get to Heaven without Our Lady's assistance. It was a beautiful sermon and I am hoping that Fr. S. eventually makes it available to all of his parishioners in booklet format.

Plans for this week

• Go to daily Mass
• Prepare for a Lilla Rose party that a couple of friends are hosting on Monday
• Pick up a new fishing reel for my son who wants to go fishing
• Spend some time gardening

A favorite prayer

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.