Goodbye Summer Daybook

Outside my window

The sun is shining and the leaves are starting to change color. At least, the sun was shining when I started this daybook. Now, the rain is pouring down and I am enjoying sipping on pumpkin spice hot cocoa. We double the cocoa and the milk when we make this.

We have had a beautiful summer!

I am wearing
a denim skirt and a navy blue t-shirt.

In the kitchen

I have been enjoying all of the barbecuing that Anthony has been doing this summer. I am so thankful to have a son who can barbecue. As I told my dad, Anthony barbecuing means that my husband can arrive home to dinner on the table.

Outside

My husband and some of the children cleaned our cars this week. The children always enjoy cleaning the cars with their dad.

I am thankful for

our new assistant pastor. He came for dinner a week ago and we had a great time visiting with him, playing Pictionary, and watching him play Mario Kart with three of our boys.

I am also thankful for Ben, a very kind man at our parish, who has been giving us heirloom tomatoes and Italian prunes. Growing up, we had a huge, old, bountiful Italian prune tree. As children, my siblings and I were always happy when the plums were ready. When I went to college, my mom sent me Italian prunes in a small box each year. Ben's Italian prunes are bringing back many fond memories.

I am hearing

the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, singing on their Marian Hymns at Ephesus CD. I am also hearing Kilian squeal and laugh. Joan is playing with him, while Bernadette tries various hairstyles in my hair.

Our baby is growing so quickly. He is moving all over the place whenever he is on the floor. Since he was born, I have been amazed by how much he moves. I joke that he is perpetual motion, but I am not really joking.

I am continuing to pray for

Kim.

We are learning

all sorts of things. Cecilia was happy when she saw the bird stamps that I bought for her to mail the letters that she writes. She is a prolific letter writer and recently asked me if I could buy some pretty stamps for her to use. When I gave her these stamps, her face lit up.

Bernadette checked this book out from the library and has been experimenting with various hairstyles. I think that we might need to have a girls' hair-styling party one of these weekends.

I was happy to find these pens for around $7 on Amazon. I've always liked using colorful pens. These write well and are comfortable to use which is a bonus. The children like using them too. They are great for writing in cards, etc.

What am I reading?

I was reading The Glories Of Mary by St. Alphonsus Liguori until the book was ruined (I won't mention how). I will be buying another copy of this title when I am able. It is a great book.

I am continuing to read Legends and Stories of Italy by Amy Steedman to the children in the morning. I am finding that the faith-filled stories in this book lend themselves well to narration. After I finish reading, I ask, "What can you tell me about the story?" One of my children will respond by retelling the story that I read. If they leave anything out of their retelling, another child is happy to add a little more to the retelling. I highly recommend Legends and Stories of Italy.

During lunch, I am reading A Nest for Celeste by Henry Cole. Thanks go to Jen for recommending this book. Whenever I read A Nest for Celeste, my young children beg, "Please read another chapter." They are thoroughly enjoying listening to this story and I am enjoying reading it. 

I am listening to

Fraternal Correction Requires Charity and On Gossiping (Fraternal Correction, Continued)

I love my husband

He surprised me with flowers on Thursday night because he felt that I needed them. He was right. 

Aren't they cute?

Plans for this week

• Go to Mass
• Go to the beach Oops that was last week. Our summer beach days with friends, new and old, have come to an end. :( I am going to miss going to the beach with my children and friends.
• Garden - There is a lot to be done outside. My perennials have taken over since last year. I want to transplant some flowers and divide others. Eventually, I hope to be satisfied with how our garden in the front looks. When that happens, I want to work on the backyard.
• Clean up around the house. It's a never-ending task that I am happy to offer to God.
• Jump in with both feet. I needed to read Sarah's Do it Afraid because I think that this is the first time (to paraphrase Sarah) that I am just "jumping in with both feet" and "shoring up the details" as I go. Oh, I wanted this summer to last and last.
• Plan for a Lilla Rose Marian luncheon party.

I am pondering

"If you are feeling overwhelmed, then you are not spending enough time with God." I read these words somewhere and I have not been able to stop thinking about them. I know that I need to make more time for God in my life.

A prayer for Students

Ineffable Creator, Who out of the treasures of Thy wisdom has appointed three hierarchies of Angels and set them in admirable order high above the heavens and hast disposed the divers portions of the universe in such marvelous array, Thou Who art called the True Source of Light and supereminent Principle of Wisdom, be pleased to cast a beam of Thy radiance upon the darkness of my mind and dispel from me the double darkness of sin and ignorance in which I have been born.

Thou Who makest eloquent the tongues of little children, fashion my words and pour upon my lips the grace of Thy benediction. Grant me penetration to understand, capacity to retain, method and facility in study, subtlety in interpretation and abundant grace of expression. Order the beginning, direct the progress and perfect the achievement of my work, Thou Who art true God and true Man, Who livest and reignest for ever and ever. Amen.  

~ St. Thomas Aquinas

I hope that everyone has had a relaxing and enjoyable summer. We enjoyed spending time together as a family, and Wednesdays at the beach with friends, both new and old, this summer. May God bless our children as we begin another homeschool, charter school/school year!