My husband and I have been married four years as of the past Thursday. We have four children together. I'm blissfully happy with him, and I know I could not have a better father for my children or a harder worker to provide for our family.
I can't wait for anniversary number five.
21 April 2009
19 April 2009
Maybe it does matter
I asked my father in law what shall I do for the Lord, now, with infants and little children? I said I can barely some days drag myself through menial everyday tasks, how am I to go out and do God's work? He said God's work for me now is already in my hands.
Teach me to love your work, Father. Even the menial tasks.
Teach me to love your work, Father. Even the menial tasks.
12 April 2009
Found this poem poignant...
I saw this, have never heard of the poet before. I read over it several times and it gave me pause.
Yellow Bowl
by Rachel Contreni Flynn
If light pours like water
into the kitchen where I sway
with my tired children,
if the rug beneath us
is woven with tough flowers,
and the yellow bowl on the table
rests with the sweet heft
of fruit, the sun-warmed plums,
if my body curves over the babies,
and if I am singing,
then loneliness has lost its shape,
and this quiet is only quiet.
Yellow Bowl
by Rachel Contreni Flynn
If light pours like water
into the kitchen where I sway
with my tired children,
if the rug beneath us
is woven with tough flowers,
and the yellow bowl on the table
rests with the sweet heft
of fruit, the sun-warmed plums,
if my body curves over the babies,
and if I am singing,
then loneliness has lost its shape,
and this quiet is only quiet.
11 April 2009
The newly regenerated baby...
Elisabeth was baptized tonight, at St. James' Easter Vigil. I spent most of the service in the nursery with the babies and then after the baptism I was back in the nursery until communion.
After the baby was baptized, our priest sprinkled the congregation with holy water. He announced he would do this, but as I,distracted, was carrying the baby back to our pew, the icy cold water fell upon my neck and back and I flinched...but only for a moment. Then my free hand flew up to make the sign of the cross, and the words of the renewal vows rang again in my ears. The frustration I felt with my toddler throwing tantrums while prayers were read, the older two wiggling and whispering nonstop, the baby fussing, it all faded for a second. Is now and ever will be.
Taking the baby back to the nursery, I took the outside route, around the corner of the church to avoid walking all the way up the pew with my screaming girl. She was hungry and this baptism business was of no interest to her. But when the night air hit us she quieted, and cooed, and stared up at me as I whispered thanks to God for the sacrament of Ella's baptism. Her peach fuzz was still wet with holy water, and her forehead shiny with chrism.
I am exhausted, the day was long, the evening, vigil, and baptism were longer-especially when spent with tired and cranky children. Four of them under 7. I'm going to finally go to bed and pray that He grant us His peace.
HE IS RISEN!
Indeed.
After the baby was baptized, our priest sprinkled the congregation with holy water. He announced he would do this, but as I,distracted, was carrying the baby back to our pew, the icy cold water fell upon my neck and back and I flinched...but only for a moment. Then my free hand flew up to make the sign of the cross, and the words of the renewal vows rang again in my ears. The frustration I felt with my toddler throwing tantrums while prayers were read, the older two wiggling and whispering nonstop, the baby fussing, it all faded for a second. Is now and ever will be.
Taking the baby back to the nursery, I took the outside route, around the corner of the church to avoid walking all the way up the pew with my screaming girl. She was hungry and this baptism business was of no interest to her. But when the night air hit us she quieted, and cooed, and stared up at me as I whispered thanks to God for the sacrament of Ella's baptism. Her peach fuzz was still wet with holy water, and her forehead shiny with chrism.
I am exhausted, the day was long, the evening, vigil, and baptism were longer-especially when spent with tired and cranky children. Four of them under 7. I'm going to finally go to bed and pray that He grant us His peace.
HE IS RISEN!
Indeed.
05 April 2009
Thoughts during Lent...
Who is this that has said:
The house of GOD is a House of Sorrow,
We must walk in black and go sadly, with longdrawn faces,
We must go between empty walls, quavering lowly, whispering faintly,
Among a few flickering scattered lights?
They would put upon GOD their own sorrow, the grief they should feel
For their sins and faults as they go about their daily occasions.
Yet they walk in the street proudnecked, like thoroughbreds ready for races,
Adorning themselves, and busy in the market, the forum,
And all other secular meetings,
Thinking good of themselves, ready for any festivity,
Doing themselves very well.
Let us mourn in a private chamber, learning the way of penitence,
And then let us learn the joyful communion of saints.
T.S. Eliot
The house of GOD is a House of Sorrow,
We must walk in black and go sadly, with longdrawn faces,
We must go between empty walls, quavering lowly, whispering faintly,
Among a few flickering scattered lights?
They would put upon GOD their own sorrow, the grief they should feel
For their sins and faults as they go about their daily occasions.
Yet they walk in the street proudnecked, like thoroughbreds ready for races,
Adorning themselves, and busy in the market, the forum,
And all other secular meetings,
Thinking good of themselves, ready for any festivity,
Doing themselves very well.
Let us mourn in a private chamber, learning the way of penitence,
And then let us learn the joyful communion of saints.
T.S. Eliot
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