A little more quiet

I've decided to take a break from this blog for awhile. We are incredibly busy now and I expect we'll stay that way for a bit longer.

I'm a little burned out on blogging these days. No words. I feel that I should listen to my instincts and lay low for a time.

Perhaps I'll change my mind next week.

Blessed summer to you all!

M.Michelle

No words

Christ is risen!

First there was lent and now my computer is down. I can grab a few minutes here and there on Fr.'s computer, but when he's free the last thing I want to do is get on a computer.

So my cyber connection has been altered drastically over the last few months.

And I love it.

My dishwasher is broken. My camera was broken (although I did get a new one).

No computer means more time with my girls. No dishwasher means doing the dishes slowly-with my girls. No camera meant making sure those memories were permanently etched in my mind and heart.

And I've loved it.

Blessed week to you all!

Christ is Risen!

Indeed He is risen!

Thou didst descend into the tomb,
O Immortal,
Thou didst destroy the power of death.
In victory didst Thou arise,
O Christ God,
Proclaiming,
"Rejoice" to the myrrh-bearing women,
granting peace to Thine Apostles,
and bestowing resurrection on the fallen.



English: Christ is risen! Indeed, He is risen!

Slavonic: Khristos Voskresye! Bo istinu voskresye!

Greek: Christos anesti! Alethos anesti!

Romanian: Hristos a inviat! Adeverat a inviat!

Arabic: El Messieh kahm! Hakken kahm!

Spanish: Cristo ha resusitado! En verdad ha resuscitado!

German: Christus ist erstanden! Wahrlich ist er erstanden!

Finnish: Kristus nousi kuolleista! Totistesti nousi!

Latin: Christus resurrexit! Vere resurrexit!

Norwegian: Christus er oppstanden! Sandelig han er oppstanden!

Italian: Cristo e’ risorto! Veramente e’ risorto!

French: Le Christ est ressuscite! En verite il est ressuscite!

Japanese: Christos fukkatsu! Jitsu ni fukkatsu!

Oh my...

This is going to be good.

Click on the link below to read about something very wonderful.

byztex.blogspot.com/2011/04/interview-with-ages-of-grace-author.html


**photo property of Evlogia

Two wonderful examples

Below are two excerpts taken from The Prologue from Ochrid for todays reading.

I love reading the Prologue. I can't image the struggles so many Christians have gone through (and continue to go through) to preserve the faith. It really puts my life as a Christian in perspective. The demons never sleep.

Go here to finish reading about these two great men or to start reading the lives of the saints daily, go here.




SAINT CYRIL, ARCHBISHOP OF JERUSALEM

Cyril was born in Jerusalem during the reign of Constantine the Great and died during the reign of Theodosius the Great [315-386 A.D.] He was ordained a priest in 346 A.D. and succeeded to the throne of Blessed Maximus, Patriarch of Jerusalem in 350 A.D. On three occasions he was dethroned and banished into exile until finally, during the reign of Theodosius, he was restored and lived peacefully for eight years and then gave up his soul to the Lord. He underwent two difficult struggles: one, against the Arians, who became powerful under Constantius, the son of Constantine, and the other during the reign of Julian the Apostate [this turncoat] and with the Jews.


ANINUS, THE WONDER-WORKER


When Pionius, a stylite,was attacked and badly beaten by robbers some distance away from Aninus, Pionius decided to descend from the pillar and proceed to complain to the judges. St. Aninus "discerned the soul" of this stylite and his intention. He sent a letter to Pionius, by his lion, counseling him to abandon his intention, to forgive his assailants and to continue in his asceticism.

St. Anthony

"As each day dawns, plan your life as though it were your last on earth, and keep yourself from sin."

~St. Anthony

Do Not Resent, Do Not React, Keep Inner Stillness

This is a very good piece for you to read if you haven't already. Click here to go to the link.

Forgive me

Lent is finally here. I've been looking forward to lent this year. I think it's mainly because of our busy schedule over the last year. Seems like we've been crazy busy with the house, homeschooling and life in general and I'm quite happy to slow things down.

I've got all sorts of ideas rolling around in my head that I want to do with my ladies during the next 40 days...

I'm going to be a bit quite on this site. I may post a few pictures, quotes or hymns, but I hope to remain quiet otherwise.

Tonight is forgiveness vespers. I ask your forgiveness for any sins I may have committed against you. If I have hurt or offended any of you, please forgive me.

A blessed lent to you and your families.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Mysteries of the Jesus Prayer - Teaser Trailer

For only $4.99, you can now download The Mysteries of the Jesus Prayer on iTunes!

I cannot wait to see this!

h.t. Mat. Emily

Lent draws nigh...

By the waters of Babylon we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. Alleluia.
We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. Alleluia.
For there they that had taken us captive required of us a song;
and they that had carried us away required of us a hymn, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. Alleluia.
How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land? Alleluia.
If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand be forgotten. Alleluia.
If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem as my chief joy. Alleluia.
Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem;
who said, Down with it, down with it, even to the foundation thereof. Alleluia.
O wretched daughter of Babylon, happy shall he be that shall reward thee as thou hast served us. Alleluia.
Happy shall he be, that shall take and dash thy little ones against the rock. Alleluia.


In Orthodox tradition, the fathers interpret the last verse as a reference to the “little thoughts – the logismoi” and dashing them against the Rock, who is Christ. Thus we rise early in the day and dash our wayward thoughts against the Rock of Christ who frees us from their tyranny. Alleluia. ~Fr. Stephen Freeman

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

You see how her toes are curled?

I love that joy.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.


{this moment, inspired by soulemama}

Flexibility

Do you ever watch your children and wonder how they are able to physically do the things they do? You know, like the baby squat. Where little ones can squat and play for a really long time with their bums about an inch from the floor.

Zoe likes to watch the world from the top of her head, but this one is always in a pretzel-like state. I've seen her reading in awkward looking positions and even watch movies like this.

I took this picture today and then I had the thought of how our interior life is much like our exterior. When children are young they are so quick to forgive and forget wrongs committed against them. When you teach a child something they remember it so easily, they take it to heart and believe it to be true. They build their lives on those truths and yet they remain limber and always ready for new teachings. But as we get older and our bodies get stiffer, as do our minds and our hearts. We hold on to disagreements. We remember wrongs committed against us. It's painful to stretch...and humble ourselves to one another.

Oh that I could be so flexible in my body as my girls! I'm sure I could find it again. Lots of people do.

But I would really love to be that flexible and willing to bend in my spirit.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.


{this moment, inspired by soulemama}

Homeschooling

However challenging it may be at times, I wouldn't have it any other way.

New home

Well we are working away on our new/old home. We are getting closer, but closer is coming slowly.

I've had several ask about where we are with the renovations. I'm not going to post pictures, but I'll tell you that we have to finish the kitchen, finish painting some of the rooms and sand the floors. We will then be done. Well, you know, done enough to move in. I'm sure the trim will be off for a few years. lol!

Anyhow, this is what the girls do when we go "work". Katherine quickly starts a fire. Yes, Fr. taught her how to start a fire, with him watching. She then gets her books and stays in front of the fireplace. She is quick to help if we need her, but otherwise she finds her perch in front of the fire.

The other two do whatever strikes their fancy. They run around outside, color and occasionally help.

The fireplace has been so nice to have there. It warms the place quite nicely and just adds a homey feel.

I am excited to be getting near the end. It must have been God's will to buy this house (yes I've had my doubts). Even after all we've been through and all the time and money it's taken to do the job, I still love and and have peace about buying the house. Thankfully.

A little slice of sunshine

It's beautiful here now. The snow is gently falling outside. It's a bit overcast with the sun peeping through now and again.

We don't get much of this weather down this way, so the girls are loving it. Just last week it was in the mid 70's.

We're staying in for the most part. Reading, crocheting, cooking...

Hope your staying warm, wherever you live.

I'll leave you with a picture of our own little slice of sunshine. This one must dress herself, which is both good...and challenging. I'm sure you understand.

And so they grow

My eldest, who turns nine this Friday, is wanting to cook more. She's wanting to try out new recipes and learn to spice and cut and on and on. "You know, do the whole thing myself," she says.

I wondered when this day would come. It's a little bittersweet I have to say. I am remembering this little one perched on a stool, grinding grain and tasting all of Papa's great creations. Now, she wants a repertoire of her own. A collection of recipes she can make.

Of course I want her to enjoy cooking and being creative in the kitchen. But what I really hope is for her to love being there. I want her to find joy in serving others-particularly her family. I want her to see the beauty of being a mother and see the salvific role this may well play in her life.

I have found that so much of my life, my salvation, is worked out here in my kitchen. My girls around me, talking, playing, helping, (not helping). I see so much of my sinful self when I'm tired and needing to make dinner while being followed around by a book toting toddler saying "Wead!, Mommy, Wead!" over and over. I have had my patience tried time and time again. I see my desire to hurry them along and just get it done. I must fold laundry. I must do the dishes. I must sweep. I must... I have seen opportunities for selfless love fly right out the window.

I had wise words burned into my heart by our much loved Vladyka JONAH, several years ago. He sat at my dinner table and listened attentively as I wailed on and on about my prayer life with children. How when I was single I had energy to pray and read my Bible. On and on were my shameful words...

And with his loving smile, all he said was: "No monastery, no elder will make you die to yourself quicker than children."

And in that instant I knew exactly what he meant. (Which mother wouldn't.) I'm not sure why I had to hear those words before I knew them to be true.

I wish I could say that I was instantly transformed into a better mother. Not so. I do, however, feel that those words pointed me in a new direction. I find it impossible to hear the truth and ignore it.

And so they grow, as do we. LIttle by little.

A giver

"If Nature has made you for a giver, your hands are born open and so is your heart; and though there may be times when your hands are empty, your heart is always full, and you can give things out of that-warm things, kind things, sweet things-help and comfort and laughter -and sometimes gay, kind laughter is the best help of all."

A little Princess ~Frances Hodgson Burnett

Oh this is a lovely book...

Speaking of gifts...one of the greatest gifts I have received is the ability to read to my girls. We follow the Charlotte Mason style of learning, so there is much reading that is required. We've always read to the girls. Since they were born we've read to them-and those days were precious. But the books the girls and I are reading these days are so wonderful. So full of beauty and wisdom and just good storytelling, that I feel I've started school all over again.

The books speak to me as well. How could they not? Many of the books we read I've read before in my youth. But somehow they stay with me now. I chew on them for hours after we've finished reading. The girls and I talk and talk about the books, mostly the characters. Each of them having their own thoughts and feelings. They too are chewing.

I could never have imagined a better life for myself.


Image: Jungle Tales by James Shannon

Don't ask

'Cause I don't know...

S Prazdnikom!

Joyous feast of Theophany!

When Thou, O Lord wast baptized in the Jordan
The worship of the Trinity was made manifest
For the voice of the Father bore witness to Thee,
Naming Thee His beloved Son.
And the Spirit, in the form of a dove,
Confirmed the certainty of that word.
O Christ, our God, Who has manifested Thyself and enlightened the world
Glory to Thee.