A Little Bit of This and A Little Bit of That Daybook

Outside my window

It's mating season for the moles and they have been wreaking havoc in our backyard. Those patches of dirt in our lawn are mole mounds. I think that it might be time for our resident mole ranger to take care of the problem.

I am wearing

a black skirt and a Marian blue shirt.

In the kitchen

We are hoping to make some cookies for our new neighbors who moved in around Christmas. We have been meaning to do this for the past few weeks, but haven't gotten around to it. I felt really terrible on Saturday when the father knocked on our door and introduced himself as our new neighbor. My children are excited to have some children living next door, and I am excited that our neighbors are fixing up their new yard. The dad works for or owns a landscaping company. If you've been reading my blog for a while, you probably know that I thoroughly enjoy gardening. I'm happy that our neighbors do too.

I am thankful for

My husband and all that he does to help. I am also thankful for my oldest daughter who does so much to help with her brothers and sisters, and around the house. I am truly blessed.

I am hearing

quiet. Everyone is downstairs, save for my oldest daughter and my baby. My little boy is sleeping peacefully next to me.

I am praying for

my dad. His health took a turn for the worse during Advent. It is so hard to live so far away from him, knowing that he is suffering.

We are learning

Our youngest daughter is very excited to be preparing for her First Holy Communion this year. She is enjoying learning her catechism and is happy to share what she has done in her class with me.

My oldest son and I have been working on Latin Mass responses with Patrick and Finnian. Kieran is usually in the room when I am doing so, and he has started saying some of the words, like "fortitudo mea." This is homeschooling at its best.

I am reading

Treasure and Tradition. Our pastor recommended this book to everyone in our parish during Advent. My husband and oldest daughter each received a copy of the book for the Feast of Epiphany. I am planning on using it as part of my children's religion lessons after I have finished reading it. Several of the families at our parish are already using Treasure and Tradition for their children's religion classes. It is a truly wonderful book.

I am listening to

Holy Families Don't Just Happen. I have listened to this sermon a few times over the years. Recently, I decided to share it with my oldest daughter. We listened to it while working on laundry together. The following day was Sunday and as usual we went to Mass. We were both very surprised to hear our pastor give an equally good sermon on the same topic. If you have teens or young adults living at home, I highly recommend that you have them listen to this sermon. I wish that I could share Fr. S.'s sermon too.

I love my husband

He took a long Christmas vacation, and we enjoyed relaxing at home with him. He returned to work on Tuesday, January 13. I miss having him at home, but am thankful that he has a job. A couple of my friends' husbands have lost their jobs and are having a hard time finding new ones. I am praying that they will do so soon.

I am pondering

how Candlemas could have arrived so quickly. I have had so much that I have wanted to share from Christmas, but somehow I haven't had the time to do so. These photos and little anecdotes will have to suffice.

Our little boy's shirt says, "All Mommy wants for Christmas is a Silent Night." People who read the shirt during Advent were amused, but it really is all that I want for Christmas each year.

Our baby received a pelican bib, socks, and The Saving Name of God the Son for his first Christmas presents. My mom used pelican bibs with my brother and sisters and me when we were young. I can't believe that I waited until my ninth child to get one of these bibs. It is so easy to clean and it catches almost all of the food that our little boy drops when he is eating.

Due to illnesses (high fevers, coughs, and a rash) in our house during Advent, we took our annual family photo on the second day of Christmas this year. Doing so meant that my husband could join us and take the photo. We all enjoyed our little outing with Daddy; however, Patrick and I did not enjoy having some birds deposit their droppings on us. Watching a couple of bald eagles, flying over the water and perching in some trees, did make up for it somewhat. We had no idea that the location that we chose for this year's photo was a bird haven. We're looking forward to returning and doing a little bit more bird watching. When we do, I think that I will wear a hat.

Happy Feast of Candlemas!

Our Lady of the Candles

I have seen a candle lit.

I have watched the slow

Consuming of the strength of it

That a light may glow.

And I have thought upon a maid

That to the temple came

And offered all herself to be

Wax - to feed a flame.

~ Sr. Mary Catherine, O.S.U. ~