Archive for May, 2008:
Of blogging and randomness
Soaking in the tub a few nights ago I had all sorts of different thoughts swirling in my head and I was thinking of blog posts I could write. Except that it all seemed so . . . random.
But life is like that isn’t it? Kinda random and all mixed up. Like walking into the bathroom upstairs and seeing graham crackers lying on the floor and thinking “why?”. Really I didn’t just make that up, I went up to run the bath and there they were. I threw them in the toilet.
The thing is I’d like to write more because I am realizing that there’s something really cathartic about writing out your thoughts. But, <there’s always a but > I worry.
My first concern is that I’m not a writer. I’m not. I can write OK sometimes but generally speaking I am NOT a writer. My grammar is terrible and oh my gosh don’t even get me started about typos. Fortunately my loving husband reads here and will gladly point out my errors to me (what a guy!) . I generally go back and fix the things he points out to me ’cause well I am a bit vain of course, but also because I hate to have to subject too many people to those misspelling and grammatical nightmares and lastly because frankly I really don’t want to embarrass my kids too much. . . at least not in that way. 
My second concern is having my thoughts seem so random (OK I need a new word) and/or jumbled. Like how do I connect one thing to another and make it sound, you know, meaningful? And then I realized that’s just too much work to even try. . . and really who cares? I mean, I care but why worry so much about something that’s so unimportant? If my random jumbledness bothers you then most likely you won’t read here anyway. Not that I’d want anyone to leave but I also wouldn’t want to be annoying so if I annoy you, well I understand. Trust me, I annoy myself sometimes.
My point is I have decided to throw caution to the wind (uh, sort of) and just write. Everyday. About my life, my kids, my difficulties my triumphs, my fears, whatever. I just hope I don’t bore anyone too much.
Subscribe to the comments for this postThe World, the Flesh, and the Devil
There’s a great article on Catholic Exchange today:
The World, the Flesh, and the Devil: Finding the Narrow Way in Prince Caspian
“The deadly peril of sin may seem a pretty dark theme for a PG-rated fantasy adventure film, and it surely goes beyond the intent of the author from whose book the film is adapted. But The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian would receive C.S. Lewis’ approval, I think, because even though it diverges mightily from the plot of his well-loved children’s book, it tackles what Lewis believed to be among the deadliest of sins: Pride.”
We saw the movie on Monday (Daddy’s birthday). It was well worth seeing —don’t miss it!
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A visit from the Cabbage Patch
=Yesterday we got to spend part of the afternoon with KC and her beautiful family.
It wasn’t nearly enough time as it felt like we were just getting started when they had to go. Still, we’re so glad we got to have what time we did.
As they drove away 3 yr. old Matthew asked if we could “go to their house tomorrow”.
Four, eight and under
Tim and the older children are on a pilgrimage to the National Centre for Padre Pio and I am left today with four children, age eight and younger.
It’s not 10AM yet and the roses in the center of the table have already been spilled (no not that tiny little vase in the picture this was a large full vase).
We’ve had breakfast AND snacks and the house is in disarray. I am trying to figure out how I can actually clean up the kitchen and get dressed (I’m not even going to think about the possibility of getting a shower).
Fortunately I had the foresight to take Maggie (she’s the 8yr. old) to mass with me last night so I don’t have to try and wrangle these little people into the car for the 11:00 mass and then. . . well, you know, walk the vestibule with my energetic 17 month old. No, instead we are staying home and I am chasing her as she tears from one end of the house to another.
Are you laughing at me? You should be! I am a mother of 10, this is not new to me —at least it shouldn’t be— but it’s not that often that I have only the smaller children for the entire day. It’s days like this that I realize how helpful my older children are. Add to that I was a LOT younger when I only had four children eight and under.
At least it’s not just me and the baby all day. She is miserable when there are no other kids here. God certainly knew what He was doing by giving her all these older siblings. She positively thrives on their attention. Unfortunately though she’s terrorizing 3 yr. old Matthew at the moment and he’s not happy about it.
Pray for me. Is it nap time yet?
Isn’t it Time We Made the World Fair?
That’s the slogan for this year’s World Fair Trade Day and it’s tomorrow, May 10th..
Why does it matter?
Because Fair Trade means fair pay and working conditions for farmers and producers. Fair Trade products are made in safe and healthy working conditions, where farmers and producers receive a fair price and have a voice in how their workplace is run.
Fair Trade supports communities. By working through cooperative structures, Fair Trade artisans and small farmers are able to invest Fair Trade earnings in their communities, improving housing, healthcare, and schools. And Fair Trade is better for the environment as it supports sustainable practices that minimize our environmental footprint.
But ultimately Fair Trade means what you buy matters. By choosing Fair Trade products, you are not only accessing high quality products, you are making a difference in the lives of the people who grow the food you eat and the goods you use.
How can you help?
- PRAY
-Stay informed and learn more.
-Buy fair trade products whenever possible and join the community of concerned Catholics determined to build a better world, one purchase at a time.
-Donate through Catholic Relief Services Fair Trade Fund where 100% of your tax-deductible contributions are used to benefit Fair Trade farmers and artisans. Through the Fair Trade Fund, CRS makes targeted, high-impact Development Grants to help artisans and farmers overseas succeed in the U.S. Fair Trade market, and Market-Building Grants that have unique potential to help grow the market for Fair Trade products here in the United States.
Harvest of Hope
gift from our oldest son for our 23rd wedding anniversary (this past Monday the 6th).
Fairtrade chocolate that lives up to its heavenly name! Yes those are 100 gram bars —yes there were ten.
Divine is the fairtrade chocolate company co-owned by the cocoa farmers cooperative Kuapa Kokoo in Ghana, who not only receive a fair price for their cocoa but also share in the company’s profit.
It almost seems un fair to have so much delicious chocolate . . . almost.
Chatter at my house
3 yr. old Matthew to Grammie on the phone:
“Grammie, Maggie has blood sugar!”
Matthew to Mom:
“Mommy, why do you keep giving Maggie shots? Stop it!”
Matthew to Mom :
“Mom! Peter called me a human! I’m not a human I’m a kid!” “Peter keeps being annoying!”
