Sun-kissed Cheeks and Sweaty Hair

Today was good. The past couple of days, too, as a matter of fact.

 

It could have something to do with the fact that we can enjoy our dinners outside in the shade of a blooming tree again. Or that the swings on our swingset haven't stopped swinging accompanied by an oscillating flow of laughter. Or that I've decided that at this moment in my life, my house just won't be clean all that often. It just won't.

 

 

Today the boys took library books about ninjas, black holes, and a haunted house out to their clubhouse while Sunshine and Little Mister kept those swings going. I sprawled myself in the sun on the deck, a pillow behind my head and a book in my hands. (This book, if you're interested.) Little Mister eventually got brave enough to try the slide and Sunshine ventured off to fill a jar with dandelions.

 

Everyone came in with sun-kissed cheeks and sweaty hair.

 

I can't guarantee that the library books will make it back into the library basket, mainly because I haven't seen it in weeks. And I'm not making any promises that those sweaty heads will get any where near shampoo tonight.

 

But we do have steaks ready to go on the grill and a few more hours of daylight.

 

And all of that sounds fine to me.

 

 

I Need A Cabin

Ahhhhh.......

I miss this space.

Inhale.....

Hello, readers.

Exhale....

I keep feeling like I have nothing to write, but I'm going to do what all the wise Bloggy Swamis say to do. I'm just going to start typing and see what spills out.

So, here's the thing. Skinny jeans. I'm the last human on the planet to jump on the bandwagon. And I haven't even jumped yet. I mean, I feel kind of like jumping. But then all I can think about is Holy moley, those things look like sweat machines! I mean I think I can pull them off because I'm pretty darn happy with my weight and thigh circumference. But I just think I'd actually die if I wore them on a hot day.

I think I'll just pick up a few maxi skirts instead.

Anyway...

I spent last weekend with the girls of my family in a cabin in the woods. And it was glorious! There were lots of fun beverages, a hot tub and a fire in a fire pit that I spent hours upon hours just poking with a stick. Poke, poke, poke.

I did miss my babies and Mr. Ordinary.

And my b00bs missed Little Mister. He's 16 months and still nurses like crazy. I'm OK with this. Someday, even though it really feels like never, but someday he will stop.

Anyway, back to the cabin. There was a little bit of hiking, some board games, ghost stories and then some more poking the fire with a stick. Blissful, I tell ya. Completely and utterly blissful.

Ugh. I need a cabin. Don't think for a second that I didn't check the real estate listings as soon as I got home.

Now I just need to win the lottery.

Mary Met Me in the Bathroom

I was getting the baby out of (yes, out of) the dishwasher while on my way to fill the six-year-old's cup of water during my fifteenth attempt to do the dishes.

The eight-year-old was still working on the same worksheet he had been staring at for three hours. Three. Hours.

The nine-year-old was called away from reading a book in his cozy spot on the couch to help wrangle the baby so I could finally fill the dishwasher with actual dishes instead of, you know, children.

The three-year-old suddenly had to go potty, even though I had just taken her, like, a billion times in the past hour.

I gave up on the dishes and took my little lady to the potty. After she was done, I scooted her out the door, shut it with myself still inside, turned off the light and sat down on the floor. And prayed.

Hail Mary...

I need my Mommy!

Full of grace...

I'm so glad you are full of grace because right now I need a ton.

the Lord is with thee...

You're in such good company.

Blessed are you among women...

You're my mentor!

and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus...

from one (horribly imperfect) mom to (a completely perfect) another

Holy Mary, Mother of God...

It's me, Ordinary (not-so-holy) Sarah, mother of those five banshees in the next room.

Pray for us sinners now...

Right-this-very-second-now-'cause-I-feel-like-I'm-gonna-lose-it, if you don't mind.

And at the hour of death.

Ah, the constant reminder of what this all really about. You're right, this moment isn't that huge of a deal. Thank you.

Amen.

I gotta go. I'm pretty sure someone is bleeding out there.

Ash Wednesday and Lent

It's Ash Wednesday! Woo hoo! Technically, you shouldn't be celebrating today. After all, Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent, a season of quiet penitence.

But me? Well, I get excited. It's the beginning of a challenge, a time to stretch ourselves in order to grow closer to God, a time of increased prayer and focus on attaining life beyond this world.

It's a time set aside to call attention to doing better.

Call me crazy, but I think of the season of lent as a great gift and I'm ripping off the wrapping paper like a little kid at a birthday party, excited to see what's inside.

What's inside for me this year? Here's what I've come up with to grow closer to God this Lenten season:

• I'm going to bed earlier. I've become quite a night owl lately. Hitting the hay before midnight has become a rarity for me. And it's not like I'm up late doing dishes or folding laundry. I'm watching movies or reading blogs or fiddling around on facebook. This, as can be expected, doesn't make for the prettiest of mornings.

• I'm getting up earlier. The ability to sleep in is one of the perks of homeschooling. But not having to get up at 6am doesn't mean waking up at 8, or occasionally 9, makes a whole lot of sense. For the next forty days I'll be climbing out from under the covers while the kids are still snuggled in their beds, quietly sneaking downstairs and starting my day off with a real purpose.

• I'm going to read the daily Mass readings. During those quiet moments by myself each morning, I'll head over to www.EWTN.com, click on Today's Mass and spend some time reading that day's readings, psalms and Gospel. {A Catholic reading the Bible! But they don't do that! (/sarcasm/) }

• I'm going to fast. Not every day, but today (Ash Wednesday) and on Fridays. Technically, I don't have to because I'm still nursing. But the nursing right now is more of a comfort than a sustenance thing so I'm choosing to fast this year. I'll be following the "one main meal and two smaller meals that, when combined, do not equal more than the one main meal." Here is what I'll be eating today:
• Breakfast: 1 cup of coffee, one plain pancake
• Lunch (main meal): salad, garlic bread, pear, milk
• Dinner: one bean burrito (no toppings), water 

I've got loftier goals. Goals, though, that will have to wait for a different season of my life. When the kids are older, I'd love to have a Lenten season filled with forty Masses. And when they've left the nest, I foresee a Lent with forty days of praying outside of an abortion mill. And when Mr Ordinary is retired, I picture a Lenten pilgrimage to The Vatican.

But for now, these are my plans. This is what I can do. And I'm excited to begin my Lenten journey.