College

I am in term 4 of my return to college. I've been taking courses towards teacher licensure for nearly two years is what that means. I am tired. Wouldn't mind a break, but I'd never go back.

I don't know how I am getting everything done. My children are a strength, they're watching me and asking questions. I want to set a good example for them. I hope they don't quit when it gets rough, and that they try very hard to find something beautiful in the drudgery of adult life. There are so many wonderful little things. God give me the strength to look for excellent things and love simple joys.

I just want to read a book that isn't a textbook (I really love reading aloud to the kids right now!) and go to bed early consistently.

I HATE MY LAPTOP where endless papers are written.

Something borrowed

In reading Piaget, Vygotsky, Dewey, and Bruner as part of teacher education, I have to admit I'm pretty sure I spent much of my early adulthood (and currently...) dismally circling the drain with those 35% of high school graduates Piaget proposed were likely still struggling to embrace higher level thinking. I'm with Vygotsky on societal and cultural influences taking precedence in movement toward higher thinking, and I thank God for my life experiences and the bunch of nonconformists I've been privileged to know so far that have propelled me out of some of the drudgery of collective oblivion which plagues American culture.

It also occurs to me I need to shut up and go to bed. Night.

Well, here we are again.

Here we are, again staring down Lent. Many things in life are new. Many things in life, like the liturgical life we live in the Church, remain familiar and sharply focused. It is funny, because all I can think is what a great comfort this beginning of the Triodion has been. It is the focused movement forward, the festal Liturgies with familiar hymns, that stitches it all together for me right now. It is something we've lived before, and live now, and will live many times again, no matter that we're 500+ miles from all we "know".

A few years ago my godmother tried to explain to me how the Church is our Mother. Now I see, we are so tenderly cared for no matter where we go.

Most Holy Theotokos, through your Son save us!

It's been a while...

Readers, scarce as you are, I am still alive. Just haven't had the time or patience for blogging. We have moved to Kansas and are settling in slowly but happily. I dreadfully miss friends and family from Memphis, the place we have called home for 7 years past, but I think this new chapter will be a good fit for us.

God willing.

Maybe a real attempt at a post later on. Christ is born!

St. Ambrose feast day. Pray for us, Bishop of Milan!

The Te Daum, attributed to Ambrose:

We praise thee, O God :
    we acknowledge thee to be the Lord.
All the earth doth worship thee :
    the Father everlasting.
To thee all Angels cry aloud :
    the Heavens, and all the Powers therein.
To thee Cherubim and Seraphim :
    continually do cry,
Holy, Holy, Holy :
    Lord God of Sabaoth;
Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty :
    of thy glory.
The glorious company of the Apostles : praise thee.
The goodly fellowship of the Prophets : praise thee.
The noble army of Martyrs : praise thee.
The holy Church throughout all the world :
    doth acknowledge thee;
The Father : of an infinite Majesty;
Thine honourable, true : and only Son;
Also the Holy Ghost : the Comforter.
Thou art the King of Glory : O Christ.
Thou art the everlasting Son : of the Father.
When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man :
    thou didst not abhor the Virgin's womb.
When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death :
    thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers.
Thou sittest at the right hand of God : in the glory of the Father.
We believe that thou shalt come : to be our Judge.
We therefore pray thee, help thy servants :
    whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood.
Make them to be numbered with thy Saints : in glory everlasting.

[added later, mainly from Psalm verses:]
O Lord, save thy people :
    and bless thine heritage.
Govern them : and lift them up for ever.
Day by day : we magnify thee;
And we worship thy Name : ever world without end.
Vouchsafe, O Lord : to keep us this day without sin.
O Lord, have mercy upon us : have mercy upon us.
O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us :
    as our trust is in thee.
O Lord, in thee have I trusted :
    let me never be confounded.