A fun test - I am too busy having scattered thoughts to post something substantial

Your Brain's Pattern

Your mind is a firestorm - full of intensity and drama. Your thoughts may seem scattered to you most of the time... But they often seem strong and passionate to those around you. You are a natural influencer. The thoughts you share are very powerful and persuading.

What Pattern Is Your Brain?

Simple words, profound effect

I have been feeling rather low lately. Incapable, disorganized, overwhelmed, etc. Wondering why on earth God saw fit to entrust me with seven souls, when I struggle with just the bare essentials of child-rearing.

Today, my 10 year old daughter was describing this chore chart system she had designed. She thought that this would make my life easier, and theirs as well, and get the jobs done with as little aggrivation as possible.

I confessed my inability to follow "systems" very well, and my hesitation to take on another plan that will inevitable fail.

"Why do you think this is the job I was given, when I am so bad at it?" I asked my daughter.

She blinked, looked at me directly, and stated very firmly, "Because you are the only one who could do it."

Wow. What a simple answer.

I'm off to do what only I can do!

Peace, out!

Here's what I have so far

These are the first icons I wrote. The Mother of God, and Christ the Teacher











This icon is "The Angel of Peace", and now resides with my aunt and uncle. I gave it to them after the death of my cousin.














This is my latest icon. Our Lady of the Sign.














I am having some technical difficulties with my camera and computer. I will try to work on it and get the rest of them up. I have also written the Holy Prophet Elijah, Saint Nicholas and the Annunciation. I am currently working on the Good Shepherd, have finished the robes and will be doing His face and hands next. Ayekah, I have done the sheep, and while it was a challenge, it was fun. I left the eyes gray and white. No eyeliner what-so-ever.

If anyone is interested, in March of this year's archives, there is a series of posts describing the process of writing Our Lady of the Sign.

An interesting comment

Ma Beck said...
Mary,
Is there a way you can make the icons on your icon blog 'enlargeable'?
(Did I just invent a word?)
They are gorgeous!


Welcome, Ma Beck, and I think I have some 'splainin' to do.

Most the icons I use to illustrate prayers or reflections are not written my be. When I do write one I make a BIG deal about it because it takes me so long. I will search and post photos of the one's I have posted in my blog in the past. I am sorry for the confusion.

For those that have asked if I sell them. I never have, because, again, it takes me so long to make one. But, I am hoping, now that I have my own "studio", I will be more prolific, and will be able to write them at a reasonable pace.

But, Ma Beck, thanks for your interest, and come back for the photos of the icons written by my hand.

(P.S. I was married at St. John Cantius, in 1992. It was the first Tridentine wedding there in something like 40 years. That was before my husband, children and I became Eastern Rite Catholic. It's a long story, but I have to say, I have FOND memories of SJC and Fr. Philips, who married us.)

Found this at "shushan's". YUM!

You Are a Chocolate Chip Cookie

Traditional and conservative, most people find you comforting. You're friendly and easy to get to know. This makes you very popular - without even trying!

What Kind of Cookie Are You?

Celebrating the Resurrection still and always

One of the many things I love about the Eastern Christian tradition is the continual focus on the Incarnation and Ressurection of Our Lord. I want to share with you two of the prayers we sang this past Sunday. No matter what trials, fears, hardships visit me in my life, the continual turning of my voice, heart and soul to the Victory of Christ lifts me, transforms me, comforts me.

These two prayer are part of the "propers" or changable parts of the Liturgy. These are the prayers that are different each week, depending on the feast, season, or other observances.

Troparion




Though the stone had been sealed by the Jews and the soldiers stood guard over Thy most pure Body, O Saviour, Thou didst rise on the third day, granting life to the world. For this the powers of heaven cry out to Thee, O giver of life: Glory to Thy resurrection, O Christ, Glory to Thy kingdom, Glory to Thy providence, Thou who alone lovest mankind.


Theotokian (prayers to and about the Holy Mother of God)

When Gabriel said: Hail to thee O virgin, at the sound of his voice the Lord of all became incarnate in thee, the holy tabernacle, as the just David had foretold. Thou wert shown more spacious than the heavens, because thou didst carry thy Creator. Glory to Him who lived in thee, Glory to Him who came forth from thee, Glory to Him who freed us through thy birth.

Another good day

Today I am off to work on my Good Shepherd icon, followed by packing up a picnic lunch and heading out to my brother and sister-in-law's farm for a family gathering. My other brother, the one who just graduated from college, is coming home today and we are celebrating. There will be 19 cousins, my parents, all of their children and their respective spouses, a pool, a barn, and a grill. Does it get any better than this!!!

May you all have a blessed, love filled weekend!

"God, be gracious to us and bless us. Shine Your countenance upon us and have mercy on us."

Tee-hee

I just belched in a very un-ladylike manner, and pounded my chest as I did it. Nice. The reason I am telling you this is the baby turned around, chuckled and said, "Bleth you!" Ah, grace and nature at its best!

Summer School

Today my eldest son and I were going over the history of the church. We are studying ancient Rome and the Apostolic times together. Today's lesson made me realize what assumptions I make as a teacher. My son kept saying he didn't understand his assignment. It seemed straight forward to me. "Make a list of the apostles that preached the Gospel to the Gentiles, and where they travelled to do so."

I looked over the text with him, and there was paragraph after paragraph about the Apostles and disciples encountering non-Jews and sharing the news of Christ and His message.

"Son, did you read this?"

"Yes."

"What exactly is the problem then."

"It doesn't say they shared the Gospel. They just told people about Jesus, and told them His message. Where does the book mention the Gospels?"

So I asked him what Gospel means (he knew) and when the first New Testament bible was compiled (he didn't know). Then, eyes sqint ever so slightly, and he says, "Oh. I get it, okay. Thanks."

There was a day when he would have said, "OOOHHHH, III Gettttt it!!!!!!!" with gratitude and enthusiasm. He's too cool for that, but I can still tell he is quite pleased when a connection is made.

We went over a few lessons of his math today too. I haven't done pre-algebra for, ummmmm... a long time. Kind of fun, actually. He seemed pleased to have my time, which is one of the reasons I like doing relaxed school over summer.

Tomorrow I am working with my second son on reading. He actually asked everyone in the family to pray for him tonight, that he will learn to read this summer. If I could, I would like to extend that request to you all. Thanks!

Blessings!

Aaaaahhhhhhhh!

This is me, this weekend, as I tried to access my blog. And when I tried to leave comments on your blogs. And when I tried to find my blog yesterday and it was blank. I could read one post at a time on the "edit" mode, but the main page was blank. I thought I'd lost crazyacres, and it make me panic.

All seems well today, now, so I will carry on with my day of sorting kid's drawers, purging worn out clothing, passing on out-grown clothing, and washing, drying, folding, and putting away lots of other clothing. *Sigh* Sometimes a nudist colony sounds pretty darn appealing~~

Test

I am having trouble seeing my blog. Anyone else?

Goood Morning!

It's another gorgeous day; sunny and warm with a cool breeze and a piercing blue sky. We live in the woods, so are gifted with the sounds of birds calling from very early in the morning til late at night. Right now they are gently calling to each other without much urgency.

I have continued to work in my yard, planting bushes and flowers, rearranging decorations and filling my flower pots. This year I decided to only use red geranims on my patio. I have to say it is stunning, and so simple. This cut down on all those decisions, "does this flower go well with this one, does this give height in the middle of the pot, does this cascade properly." Nothing but red geraniums, and I think it's the prettiest my patio has ever looked.

So, today I'm off to deposit my children at various friend's houses and then take the youngest three somewhere fun. I do not want to miss a minute of this gorgeous day! I'll leave you with a morning prayer:

As we rise from sleep we worship You, O good and powerful Lord, and to You we sing the angel's hymn: holy, holy, holy are You, O God, through the prayers of the Mother of God, have mercy on us.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Having raised me from bed and sleep, O Lord, enlighten my mind and open my heart and lips to praise You, O Holy Trinity; holy, holy,holy are You O God; through the prayers of the Mother of God, have mercy on us.

Now and always and forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer Before Beginning Any Task

Almighty God, our refuge and our help, Fountain of wisdom and Tower of strength, I can do nothing without Your guidance and help. Assist me, I pray You, and direct me by Your divine wisdom and power, that I may accomplish this task and whatever I may undertake to do faithfully and diligently, according to Your will, so that it may be for my good and for the good of others and to the glory of Your holy name. For to You we render glory - Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.

Fatherhood

I stole this straight off of my brother's photo blog (In the Eye of the Storm). He took this sweet photo of one of my other brothers, and a few of his eight children. (You can click on the photo for a better look.)

the mom I am

Your type is: infp —The “Tuned In” Mother

“Inside our children, I believe, is a truth that tells them what’s best for them. I am always listening for that truth.”


Aware, astute, and understanding, the INFP mother is sensitive to her child’s needs, feelings, and perceptions. By observing and listening to the cues of the whole child, she is “tuned in” and naturally develops an intuitive feel for what he or she needs. Responsive and helpful as well, she tends patiently to those needs as they arise.
The INFP mother is comfortable letting her children follow their own course of development and make their own choices. She offers encouragement and uses her insights to head off trouble and difficult issues.
The INFP mother takes vicarious pleasure giving her children good experiences and watching them enjoy childhood. She’s happiest creating pleasant, memorable times for the whole family.

I saw this around the last few days. I have to say this is very much the way I see myself on a good day. I couldn't find the code to paste here, so I just copy/pasted. I don't know how to post the link to mothersytles.com, but if you want to take the quiz, go to ukok's site and she has a link.

This and that

Happy Friday! What a great and busy week. I have been the mad gardener, filling in most of my newly roto-tilled dirt, putting in our garden and trying to get all the dirt out from under my fingernails. The weather has been particularly gorgeous, and what a pleasure to spend my days outside, with my hands in the dirt, listening to the birds sing and the kids play.

The girls and I found a woodpecker nest. We were resting on a bench in our yard after digging or some such labor, and we heard this constant "peep-peep-peep-peep-peep". We followed the sound and were led to a dead tree with a little hole bored in the middle of one branch, with a bigger hole 6" above it. We waited quietly to see the mommy bird come back, and waited, and waited...

We walked away and hid behind a tree, and immediately mommy returned and the babies peeped even more loudly. Now that we had learned what to look for, we found another woodpecker nest. Our Chickadee's have left the nest already, the finches are getting bigger, the mourning doves are gone from what I can see, and there wrens are busy as ever.

School is almost finished and should be able to be all packed up next week. The kids are getting upand getting their work finished by 10:00 am, and the rest of the day is ours.

I have a dear visitor coming today, my sister-in-law, and we are going to shop a little and work outside a little. She is very talented and energetic, and I can't wait to spend the day with her.

I'll leave you a little prayer of St. John Chrysostom. Have a blessed day!

"Lord, sprinkle into my heart the dew of Your grace.

O Lord, plant in me the root of all blessings: revernce for You in my heart.

O Lord, grant me to love always to do Your will.

Lord, send Your grace to help me, that I may glorify Your holy name."