November Daybook

Outside My Window …

Even with falling leaves, bare trees, frosty mornings, and the extra work required to bundle up the kids, I think I love November about as much as October.  And wow, look at that there. The camera captured a smile from Jude! :)

Giving Thanks …

For my husband. We celebrated our tenth wedding anniversary on October 22 and enjoyed a blissful 27-hour getaway to Minneapolis to see Karol Wojtyla’s (Pope John Paul II) The Jeweler’s Shop performed on stage at the Open Window Theatre. Our anniversary falls on the same day as St. John Paul II’s feast day. He was a preeminent champion of marriage and family life and someone who has greatly strengthened our marriage and ministry. I’m still a little giddy that our anniversary falls on his feast day. Actually, that coincidence has served as a nudge to press on with our marriage and family ministry. (Maybe it’s not a coincidence after all?) While in Minnesota, we also toured the majestic Cathedral of St. Paul, a gem of the Midwest. I’m really hoping to find some time to write and share more about The Jeweler’s Shop soon. There’s so much there to unpack.

I am Thinking About …

Hashimoto’s Disease. Really, I’m tired of thinking about it because it’s all I’m thinking about these days.

In the Schoolroom …

My goal for Lucy this school year is to continue advancing in reading, writing, and math. So far, so good. I’m really happy with the reading and writing curriculum we’ve chosen — Catholic Heritage Curricula. Math? Well, it doesn’t make my socks go up and down. Is that too much to ask from a math curriculum? But she’s learning and isn’t in tears, so we’ll keep on for now. We’re using MCP, for what it’s worth.

From the Kitchen …

Because the Beggar’s Night/Halloween/All Saints trifecta didn’t satisfy our collective sweet tooth, I went and made a batch of that infamous CRACKer jack caramel corn over the weekend. Lock me up, now.

I am Creating …

Hmmm. Does photography count? Because I love playing with my camera. The Cathedral of St. Paul in Minnesota sure provided one excellent backdrop. (see below)

I am Working On …

Advent lesson plans. Keep it simple, think the FedEx arrow!

I am Praying …

For my dad. He appeared in my dream recently. He was wearing a suit. And he was happy. I have no idea what that dream may mean, but it occurred on the Feast of All Souls, the day the Church remembers to lovingly pray for those who have gone before us. So I’m taking it as a nudge to pray for him more.

And per the Pope’s monthly prayer intentions:

• For lonely people: That all who suffer loneliness may experience the closeness of God and the support of others.
• For mentors of seminarians and religious: That young seminarians and religious may have wise and well-formed mentors.

I am Reading …

• Pride and Prejudice. True story: I have never read this classic novel. Another true story: I have never seen the movie. I started the book last week and am so enjoying it! Once I finish reading it, I’m making a beeline for the movie. What’s your favorite film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice? BBC? The one with Keira Knightley?
• The Reading Promise. This is the memoir from the daughter of that father-daughter duo who read aloud together every night for 3,218 consecutive days. Such a delightful book, and I see it’s available in paperback now for $6.00 on Amazon.
• James & the Giant Peach. This is my current read-aloud with Lucy … and sometimes Jude. I’m loving it just as much as Lucy, I think.
• The Jeweler’s Shop. See above. I actually read this one aloud to Joel while he drove us to Minneapolis. It’s so very good. As I wrote above, there’s so much on my heart about this book. As our Church continues  the Bishops’ Synod on the Family and prepares for the World Meeting of Families, The Jeweler’s Shops feels like the right book for these times.

I am Learning …

That “No.” is a complete sentence.

I am Pondering …

If I’m being called to an opportunity that’s been presented to me. If not, I must remind myself about NO! being a complete sentence.

Carefully Cultivating Rhythm …

Praying for the discipline to go to bed earlier in order to wake earlier.

I am Hearing …

Podcasts are really energizing lately. I think it’s a way for this introvert to be intellectually energized from the comfort of my home. Sister Ann Shields’ Food for the Journey weekday podcasts and The America’s Test Kitchen weekly podcast are always on the rotation.

Clicking Around …

• The Healing of Families. A good resource to share with families struggling with the impacts of generational conflicts and sin.
• Philip Johnson, a 30-year-old Catholic seminarian living with terminal brain cancer, responds to Brittany Maynard. Really puts this quote into context: “Love also gives meaning to suffering and death.” — St. Pope John Paul II.
• Also, here’s an interview with Philip Johnson on the Gus Lloyd show — an eloquent, beautiful, and convicting witness.
• Story Online. Read-alouds online. Quiet time just got easier!
• The Case for Witch-Hunts: From C.S. Lewis and Roald Dahl. Given our current read-aloud is James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl, this title caught my attention.

Around the House …

Moving bedrooms. The experiment called Operation Lucy & Jude Room Together failed. So let’s try Operation Lucy & Lydia Room Together. At least we don’t have to worry about purple and pink and lace and tulle playing havoc on Jude’s Art of Manliness. For now.

Living the Liturgy …

October was a big month for celebrating saints. And by celebrate, I simply mean we read about them and attended an All Saints Party or two. Lots of big ones in October that jazzed up Ordinary Time a bit: St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Guardian Angels, Francis of Assisi, Teresa of Avila, St. Luke the Evangelist, Pope John Paul II, Saints Simon and Jude, and ending with the Vigil of All Saints.

One of My Favorite Things for The Practicing Catholic …

So not a lot of crafting around here, but I really do enjoy reading aloud to my kids. Amy Welborn has two terrific books that I think are must-haves for every home:

• Book of Saints
• Book of Heroes: Stories of Catholic Heroes and Saints throughout History.

A Few Plans for the Coming Weeks …

REST. October was incredibly full of commitments. We are traveling to Wisconsin for Thanksgiving, so we sure hope mild temps stick around through the end of the month.

A favorite quote for the month …

On the heels of All Souls:

I would go so far as to say that if there was no purgatory, then we would have to invent it, for who would dare say of himself that he was able to stand directly before God. And, yet we don’t want to be, to use an image from Scripture, ‘a pot that turned out wrong,’ that has to be thrown away; we want to be able to be put right. Purgatory basically means that God can put the pieces back together again. That He can cleanse us in such a way that we are able to be with Him and can stand there in the fullness of life. Purgatory strips off from one person what is unbearable and from another the inability to bear certain things, so that in each of them a pure heart is revealed, and we can see that we all belong together in one enormous symphony of being.” — Pope Emeritus Benedict

A peek into a few our of our recent days …

A Blessed November to you all!