Where's Willow?

It never ceases to amaze me where I will find her. Hope you enjoy!

Spring Cleaning

HERE IS MY UPDATE!!! WHAT I GOT DONE IS IN BOLD!I have read several Blogs that are including Spring cleaning with the spiritual cleaning of Lent. It is a beautiful concept of preparing our homes as well as our hearts. Here is a very ambitious Spring cleaning list I borrowed from Elizabeth Foss:
March 2nd: Desk
March 3rd: Dressers
March 4th: Hall Closet
March 5th: Master Bedroom Closets
March 6th: Laundry RoomMarch 7th: Clean Truck
March 8th: Sunday
March 9th: Master Bedroom
March 10th: Hall Bathroom
March 11th: Kitchen
March 12th: Kitchen
March 13th: Linen Closet
March 14th: Pullman Bath
March 15th: Sunday
March 16th: Hallway and StepsMarch 17th: Entrance and Closet
March 18th: Library Hutch in Kitchen
March 19th: Living RoomMarch 20th: Craft Cupboard
March 21st: Storage shelves
March 22nd: Sunday
March 23rd: Dining RoomMarch 24th: Baseboards
March 25th: Windows
March 26th: Master Bathroom Drawers and Cabinets
March 27th: Kitchen
March 28th: Family RoomMarch 29th: Sunday
March 30th: Pantry(both)
March 31st: Freezer
April 1st: Refrigerator
April 2nd: Drawers
April 3rd: Cabinets
April 4th: Paschal Baskets and Clean Garbage Cans
April 5th: Sunday
April 6th: Master Bathroom
April 7th: Children’s Artwork
April 8th: Garage
April 9th: Launder Spring Bedding
April 10th: Clean Car
April 11th: Plant Flowers for porch
April 12th: Easter

I've been busy!!!!

Shamefully,I was looking forward to the kids going to school today. I could tackle a mountain of laundry, clean my kitchen, and study for my test. My toddler has other plans...

Small Successes-Volume 2

1. Willow had therapy every day this week. Her therapist just opened the Tulsa Sunshine Center. Praise God for that. Willow is able to see two other SLP's besides our amazing Floortime Therapists Lauren Hutson and Cheryl LaFortune. She also had her second play date. Things couldn't be going better for her. It is a blessing!

2. I had a great week at College. Learned so much Making A's so far. The kids are also doing great at school. Everyones homework got done.

3. We taught Alex and Tiana how to play "Go Fish!" I have ALWAYS wanted to have family game night. I am so excited!

4. I have started my morning devotionals.

5. I took time to connect with two new friends. Both needed someone to just listen. People are more important than a clean house or projects.

Lent

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday. I have been prayerfully thinking of what I want to accomplish this Lenton season. I think that rather than give something up, I am going to try to do something more. When I went through my Cursillo weekend, they encouraged you to get a spiritual advisor or mentor. My first pick was my friend Julie. Supermom and mother of 10! She lives in Florida so I called a couple of weeks ago. Her advise to me was to establish my devotionals. She also encouraged me to do it first thing in the morning. They start their day with a prayer to the Holy Spirit, the Rosary, and a Litany of the Saints. Their family has a Litany that they have been developing for years. This is a really neat tradition. They start their litany with all of the Saints in their names. Beginning with Joe and Julie and going through all ten children. They added guardian angels that are special to them and other Saints they admire. I love this idea but Chris and a couple of the kids are the only ones with saint names! I am creating my own but until then, I am useing this one. I am also concentrating on treating my body like a temple to God. This means exercising more and continueing not to drink any alcohol.

Small Successes

Here are my small successes for the week.
1. I painted my son's room, finished decorating my daughters room, and organized my office.
2. Scheduled Willow's EEG to see if she is having seizures. Trying to get to the bottom of her new odd behavior.
3. Spent time with my kids and husband while attempting to finish my education.

Motherhood as a vocation

Elizabeth Foss, a Catholic homeschool mother of 9, inspires me on a daily basis. Her thoughts on Motherhood are especially touching. I thought I would pass it on...
Blessed the husband of a good wife,
twice-lengthened are his days;
A worthy wife brings joy to her husband,
peaceful and full is his life.
A good wife is a generous gift
bestowed upon him who fears the LORD;
Be he rich or poor, his heart is content,
and a smile is ever on his face.

A gracious wife delights her husband,
her thoughtfulness puts flesh on his bones;
A gift from the LORD is her governed speech,
and her firm virtue is of surpassing worth.
Choicest of blessings is a modest wife,
priceless her chaste soul.
A holy and decent woman adds grace upon grace;
indeed, no price is worthy of her temperate soul.
Like the sun rising in the LORD's heavens,
the beauty of a virtuous wife in her well-ordered home.
-from the Book of Sirach


A Homemaker's Prayer
May I have the strength and the will to do the humble tasks, that make a house a fit abode for my loved ones. Clean floors, shining china, dainty curtains, clean sheets, good food, a cheery fire-may my willing hands make these things possible.
But Father, let me remember that man does not live by bread alone, that material things but make a proper setting for life's real treasures of mind and spirit. Give me patience and understanding and kindness and humor and love in abundance, and charity for all. May the spirit of happiness, of joys and sorrows shared, of unity, of the peace that passeth understanding linger here! Help me to keep the path to Thee open and easy to find for the little ones in my keeping. And let there be laughter here.
And last, dear Lord, help me to remember the stranger without the door. May there be warmth enough on our hearth to share with him.
Is this too much for one so weak, so full of faults as I, to ask? At least it can be a goal toward which to strive, and to Thee all things are possible. Amen

-Mrs. Howard Peet,



Prayer to St. Anne for Homemakers
Dear St. Anne, we know nothing about you except your name. But you gave us the Mother of God who called herself handmaid of the Lord. In your home you raised the Queen of Heaven and are rightly the model of homemakers. In your womb came to dwell the new Eve uniquely conceived without sin. Intercede for us that we too may remain free from sin. Amen.