For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world!

Charlie, Isaac, and Nick

When all is still and silent

                     they cannot be.

That is not their way

                     not how they worship or love God.

When everyone stands

                     to sing or recite;

proper and all on key.

That is not their way

                     piping baby voices

ringing true and clear.

Just high above the rest

                     singing so God can hear.

When all kneel still and soft;

                     in adoration of the Lord.

They do not.

for that is not their way.

He made their wiggles

                     for His glory.

He made their cries

                     for his praise.

That is their way.

There are days when the sun is shining.

Lunch must be eaten out of doors.

Peanut butter has to be mixed with jelly

the cheese on the nachos

has to be peeled off

before it is eaten.

When the sun shines and the birds sing

milk has to have ice cubes in it and

sand should be between toes.

Indoors is the wrong place to be.

Babies have to put grass in their mouths

while two-year-olds dump sand

in their hair

laughing as it flows down their chins.

Mammas turn away because

the sun is shining

it must be done this way.

Puppies play

when the sun shines

their pink tummies

soft and warm.

Rolling in the sand

toes get nipped

babies giggle

and the sun shines.

Peanut butter crumbs

disappear onto pink tongues

and babies and puppies

share their lunches

only when the sun is shining.

In the spring the breezes blow

baby arms are chubby and cold,

but that's okay

when the sun shines.

Spit up sinks into the soil

and no one cares.

Chins don't get wiped,

the sun is shining

and dirty faces are right.

Later it will be bath time.

Then fingernails will be scrubbed.

Toes will be found

down deep in the sand.

Peanut butter will be parted from the jelly

the nachos will grow stale.

then the sun will go down.

Night will descend

everything will be right

because the sun was shining.

Duly sworn into the Army of the United States Army.

Outside my window....old man winter decided to rear his ugly head last night. We woke up this morning to 4 or 5 inches of snow that fell last night.  Temps are in the 20's with a stiff west wind that drops the windchill below 0.  It is a good day to sit inside and do what needs to be done.  There will certainly be no pull of the weather calling me outside like there was last week.

I am thinking....about this mornings reading from Mother Theresa.  She talks about temptation being the fire that purifies us like gold in the furnace.  Lately I have not been trying too hard to resist those little temptations to imperfection and mediocrity that have come my way.  I need to head out to confession and make a new start turning my back on my moods and errant emotions.

I am thankful for....a husband who stands firm when firmness is called for.  I thank God for him every day.

From the kitchen....there is plenty of leftover beef stroganoff from yesterday to satisfy this crowd.

I am wearing....green tee shirt and sweat pants. 

I am creating....completed school assignments.

I am going...to stay home all day until Matthew needs to report to the recruiter this afternoon. 

I am reading...Danial Deronda by George Eliot

I am hoping...to get the bulk of my writing done early this week so that I can work on some other projects.

I am hearing...Layn climbing the stairs to take his first nap of the day, the sound of the windchimes out front that hang under the eaves of the house blowing in the wind, and Isabella trying to find a comfortable place to lay down here in the sewing room.

Around the house....things are neat and clean and in full Monday morning swing.  We have to be quieter than usual today though. Ian is sleeping because he had to be out plowing all night last night.

One of my favorite things...having virtual coffee and conversation with my online friends.

A few plans for the rest of the week....school, holy hour, doctor's appointments, and more school.

Here is a picture thought that I am sharing with you....

This boy is often the only reason to get up in the morning!  Time to bust out of that malaise and get back on my own road again.