Offerings

Crosses are everywhere, literally.

The form of the cross can be found in nature, in art, and in structures, whether incidentally or intentionally.

Crosses in the form of suffering are everywhere too. In the course of an average day, we bump up against any number of annoyances, injuries, worries, frustrations, and even people that are opportunities to "offer it up".

Keeping our eyes and hearts open for the crosses that bring our minds and hearts to the Cross of Christ, is a lifelong habit that we can learn to love.
Offering our sufferings for the good of others makes those burdens lighter, and gives them purpose.

When we give even our little pains to God, we are imitating our beloved Jesus like a small child looks at and copies mom or dad. Of course our little efforts don't amount to much, compared to His, but they are precious to Him.

I am going to make an effort to see both kinds of crosses as I go through my days. I will post them here occasionally.

The image above is on the outer wall of one of the buildings at Mount Saint Mary's. I thought it was a beautiful and simple outward sign.
I also had a chance to offer up a wait in line today, and it was a great time to pray my Rosary!

I'm All Alone...

This has been happening more and more lately.
Everyone is off doing one or another of the things that they do, and here I am with time to catch up on the laundry, work on dinner, correct school-work, or blog. It's weird.

We have been trying to match the time that we have with what we have to do, and prioritize things better.
Having a plethora of "rewarding" activities can be anything but rewarding.
Wanting High School to be a time of preparation for whatever life has in store, became a high-stress treadmill that no-one wanted to be on. Academics are all well and good, but there has to be a balance.

I had to make the very difficult decision to let the boys drop piano. I loved having them play, but between the finances and the extra stress on the boys to perform, it was decided. I guess we will try to find a voice coach for Paul, at a lower expense, and they are both going to start playing guitar, which really isn't the same as far as learning music for it's own sake.

The year is going much more smoothly however. Biology isn't nearly the mountain to climb that I thought it was going to be, writing is turning out to be pretty low-key, at least so far, and math, well, it's math. But with the things that we have to do being less weighty, we an actually do trips and retreats, and learn by doing.
Paul wants to take Japanese, so I need to find him a class. He is still progressing in Karate, and I am so proud of him!

John is learning about working retail. For the time being he is enjoying earning money and learning the ropes there. I don't know what's next for him, on the career front, but I know that he is well prepared for it. Very bright guy, that one. I am so proud of his initiative.

Well, my time's up! Off to pick up my drama guys.

Picture Round-up!

Brendan Climbing 8-22

Paul and Yana Climbing at Annie's Playground 8-22

Sterling 1 year 8-25

Annapolis 8-26

Capitol Dome

View From Capitol Steps

Maggie 5.5 Yr

Lighthouse At Sunset 8-29

Flowers for Mary

While we were at Camp Veritas, we stopped at a farm to pick flowers for the altar. Mary and Noleen did a beautiful job of picking and arranging the flowers that then sat at the altar all week. They were there through all the evenings of Adoration, through the Eucharistic procession, and through all the Masses. I was so glad that Mary offered me a part of the arrangement to place before our statue. 

They have been very close to Jesus, just like Our Lady.

Like I Was Saying

Time In

I have been thinking a lot, lately, about the value of time. Not just my time, but time in general. The older I get, the less there is of it, the more demand there is on it, and the more I wish that I could purchase a few extra hours a week. Of course, time is a lot like space. If you have it, you will fill it, and not necessarily with things that make life better. 

So in the interest of making life better, I am examining the ways that I am spending my time, and also the things that I do that take up time, but really aren't worth it, and don't add to the well being of my home and family. 

My focus has always been on the people in my life and the places that we inhabit. My home, my church, the lives of the people closest to me. However, how many times have I been unable to be there or to attend to the people that I care about because of things that I am trying to do that aren't going to mean anything to anyone two days from now? How many times have I passed off a chance to make a meal or have a visit with a friend, because I am attending to some business or other that really isn't important?

I wrote a while ago about how important it is to be present to someone, in a real way, every day. 

That has been wonderful! I have been making a much better effort to really see people, to ask questions, and to try to see things from where they are coming from. To smile, and mean it, when I am out shopping or having a conversation. To not always be thinking about the next place that I have to be, or the things that I have to do, but be more in the moment. 

It's not easy, and it requires discipline that I don't always have. I have been a busy person a long time. I am really enjoying the effort though!

Giving people time is really like giving them a prized possession. Maybe that's why when you do it, and mean it, they really know you care. 

My Time With My Friend....

....was the highlight of my day.

Well, one of them. There were actually quite a few.

I have taken a bunch of the apps off my phone, to save the battery, and so when I got up I didn't reach for it to check Facebook, I just went downstairs to my prayers and treadmill. Started off the day with my usual workout, but no input from facebook, or email. That's actually really nice.

I drove John to Bel Air for an appointment, but then spent an hour reading my book. Most enjoyable!

I came home, and I was working, which is a computer based activity right now, unfortunately, but then after I stopped for the day, I came out to start dinner and my friend Christine came by with her kids! We had a very nice visit while I was cooking. It was so great to just talk about so many things. Her dad's health, our kids, our plans...just everything.

We had a nice family dinner, and we had Lilly here! She had dinner and then we read a bit of "Little House in the Big Woods". She is really excited about how many books are in the series.

Lilly and Tim took a walk with Maggie and then they built a model house!

Some really good stuff!