Boy!
Joseph will have a new baby brother on (or hopefully before!) August 23rd.
I don't have too much time to post right now as I'm getting ready for work- but to keep up my Lenten attempt- a few good things:
1. I'm very happy that we're having a little boy. Not only will Joseph have a buddy to play with, but I will have some idea of how to deal with a baby boy because I've already had one- AND I don't have to buy a ton of new things because they can share.
2. I only have one more week without a day off to get through.
3. My 9th graders did a fantastic job assisting at Mass, considering they had not done it since the Fall semester.
4. It was a great thing that Fr. E and the Principal were available last night during Religious Ed- especially since the boy's bathroom was overflowing with toilet water and leaking into a classroom! The mess was cleaned up with a wet-vac, but I don't know if the problem has been solved yet.
5. I can see green patches in the back yard. (I'm hoping Spring is REALLY on it's way!)
6. Hubby is sending in two applications today. Please pray for his job search.
Hopefully, I'll have time to post something more detailed soon.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
A Few Good Things
Yesterday:
1. I didn't need to worry about dinner because my sister and her boyfriend cooked a pesto feast!
2. Because I worked late last night, I went in late to work yesterday and got to spend time with Joseph and put him down for his nap and cuddle with him.
3. All of my Second Grade Parents and their kids (except for two!) showed up to our First Eucharist meeting last night.
4. It was warmer than thirty degrees and I could walk around with an open coat! Could Spring FINALLY be arriving?!
5. The Fifth Grade student I'm tutoring remembered almost everything from our last tutoring session two weeks ago and has memorized two of her prayers.
Good things to come:
SONOGRAM on Wednesday- and my Mom volunteering to watch Joseph since it's an hour long- AND the fact that Alicia will be here for the results!
1. I didn't need to worry about dinner because my sister and her boyfriend cooked a pesto feast!
2. Because I worked late last night, I went in late to work yesterday and got to spend time with Joseph and put him down for his nap and cuddle with him.
3. All of my Second Grade Parents and their kids (except for two!) showed up to our First Eucharist meeting last night.
4. It was warmer than thirty degrees and I could walk around with an open coat! Could Spring FINALLY be arriving?!
5. The Fifth Grade student I'm tutoring remembered almost everything from our last tutoring session two weeks ago and has memorized two of her prayers.
Good things to come:
SONOGRAM on Wednesday- and my Mom volunteering to watch Joseph since it's an hour long- AND the fact that Alicia will be here for the results!
Monday, March 14, 2011
Cultivating an Attitude of Gratitude
Being pregnant, I'm not to abstain and fast from certain things during Lent, so I was trying to find something I could give up that would cause me to struggle and to grow- and I've found it.
I'm trying to give up complaining about my job and my living situation for Lent. And- let me tell you, after one week- ONE WEEK of Lent, I've had to start over this resolution on a daily basis.
It's been an eye opening experience- one that has not only revealed to me my cynicism, but also faithlessness, and ingratitude for what God has provided me with- a place to stay with people who are (trying) to look out for my well being, and a job in which I have an opportunity to provide for my husband and son, all while doing the work of a missionary.
In any case- now that I have realized my weaknesses- I want to do something to work on having an "attitude of gratitude". Whether it's in my personal journal or in this blog, I need to record down all of the good things that have happened to me during the day, and keep a log of them. I have a feeling that with this new practice, i will begin to change my attitude. Sometimes, when we can concretely see how God's hand is working in our lives, it makes it that much easier to be faithful, and to place a childlike trust in Him and in His providence
This Bible passage is one that I will reflect on during Lent:
Matthew 6:26
I'm trying to give up complaining about my job and my living situation for Lent. And- let me tell you, after one week- ONE WEEK of Lent, I've had to start over this resolution on a daily basis.
It's been an eye opening experience- one that has not only revealed to me my cynicism, but also faithlessness, and ingratitude for what God has provided me with- a place to stay with people who are (trying) to look out for my well being, and a job in which I have an opportunity to provide for my husband and son, all while doing the work of a missionary.
In any case- now that I have realized my weaknesses- I want to do something to work on having an "attitude of gratitude". Whether it's in my personal journal or in this blog, I need to record down all of the good things that have happened to me during the day, and keep a log of them. I have a feeling that with this new practice, i will begin to change my attitude. Sometimes, when we can concretely see how God's hand is working in our lives, it makes it that much easier to be faithful, and to place a childlike trust in Him and in His providence
This Bible passage is one that I will reflect on during Lent:
25“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?g 28And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
34“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:26
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Joseph
Today I went out with a friend after stopping by the salon for a trim. I hadn't seen this person in a while, and it was lovely to catch up. However, the entire time I was getting a manicure, and the entire time we had lunch, I had Joseph on my mind. I was wondering what he was doing- if he was behaving for my husband and my Dad- just missing him SO much!
I guess I don't understand (probably because I currently work full time) how to be away from my child, and feel "okay" about it. As it is, I know I won't be able to lift him in the near future as my pregnancy progresses- and I feel like each moment that I can still hold him, hug him and play with him is so precious. He's the joy of my day!
My favorite part of the day is when I come home from work and I can hear him calling for me as he hears the door open..and then he reaches out to me and gives me a kiss. I wish I could freeze moments like that.
I guess I don't understand (probably because I currently work full time) how to be away from my child, and feel "okay" about it. As it is, I know I won't be able to lift him in the near future as my pregnancy progresses- and I feel like each moment that I can still hold him, hug him and play with him is so precious. He's the joy of my day!
My favorite part of the day is when I come home from work and I can hear him calling for me as he hears the door open..and then he reaches out to me and gives me a kiss. I wish I could freeze moments like that.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Cheerfulness
I've started reading another book about Mother Teresa- and that woman just AMAZES me. This book has published much of her correspondance that she had wanted to have her superiors and spiritual advisors destroy, (they obviously didn't) and it's so eye opening to read the thoughts and musings of this saint.
Last night when I was reading, I came across a particular line (a Golden Line!) that struck me. The paraphrased version of this is that whenever Mother Teresa saw someone who was sad, that person must be keeping something from God.
Wow.
The seoond thing that struck me was how she wrote about the virtue of cheerfulness. So often we hear about the virtues of faith, hope, charity, etc., etc...that at least for myself, I forget that cheerfulness is a virtue- and one that I need to work on!
So many of the saints were cheerful despite their interior trials because they LOVED God and would do anything to make Him happy. It's amazing to me how when one changes his focus from himself to God, his entire life changes.
I've seen few people who manifest this virtue, but I can say that my sister Amanda is one of those people. Out of everyone I've known, despite what she was going through, she was cheerful. She didn't deny that she had difficulties, but because of her childlike faith and humility, they did not weigh on her. She trusted that she would be taken care of.
And she was.
A little while back, a friend had posted as a Facebook status that "Everyone receives a cross, but the weight of it depends on the person..." or something to that effect. I think that's true. Everyone does have difficulties. But when handled with a childlike faith, when one TRUSTS in God and abandons himself to God's will, the cross is not only lighter, but a sweet offering of love to Our Lord. The burden is transformed into an "unwritten love note" to the Beloved.
Someday, I hope to get to that point! :)
On a completely unrelated note- I'm eagerly awaiting my sonogram. Baby #2 has been swimming and rolling on my right side- and I'm actually quite surprised I've been feeling him (or her!) so early. I'm going to be 16 weeks tomorrow. Where does the time go?!?
Last night when I was reading, I came across a particular line (a Golden Line!) that struck me. The paraphrased version of this is that whenever Mother Teresa saw someone who was sad, that person must be keeping something from God.
Wow.
The seoond thing that struck me was how she wrote about the virtue of cheerfulness. So often we hear about the virtues of faith, hope, charity, etc., etc...that at least for myself, I forget that cheerfulness is a virtue- and one that I need to work on!
So many of the saints were cheerful despite their interior trials because they LOVED God and would do anything to make Him happy. It's amazing to me how when one changes his focus from himself to God, his entire life changes.
I've seen few people who manifest this virtue, but I can say that my sister Amanda is one of those people. Out of everyone I've known, despite what she was going through, she was cheerful. She didn't deny that she had difficulties, but because of her childlike faith and humility, they did not weigh on her. She trusted that she would be taken care of.
And she was.
A little while back, a friend had posted as a Facebook status that "Everyone receives a cross, but the weight of it depends on the person..." or something to that effect. I think that's true. Everyone does have difficulties. But when handled with a childlike faith, when one TRUSTS in God and abandons himself to God's will, the cross is not only lighter, but a sweet offering of love to Our Lord. The burden is transformed into an "unwritten love note" to the Beloved.
Someday, I hope to get to that point! :)
On a completely unrelated note- I'm eagerly awaiting my sonogram. Baby #2 has been swimming and rolling on my right side- and I'm actually quite surprised I've been feeling him (or her!) so early. I'm going to be 16 weeks tomorrow. Where does the time go?!?
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